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Lehi, Utah Lowry Nelson

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EARLY PICTURE OF PRESIDENT HEBER J. GRANT AND CHILDREN

The little boy on the lap of his father is Heber Stringham Grant,
President Grant's son, who was born December 9, 1888, and died
February 27, 1896. The girls are, back center: Rachel Grant Taylor; right,
Lucy Grant Cannon; left, Florence Grant Smith; front, right, Anna Grant
Midgley; left, Edith Grant Young.

Improvement era

Vol. XXIV AUGUST, 1921 No. 10

Significant Counsel to the Young People
of the Church *

By President Heber J. Grant

I have been reading, since the morning meeting, from the
first number of the Improvement Era, published twenty-three
years ago last November, Volume 1. No. 1, an article by Edward
H. Anderson regarding the organization of the general board of
the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. I find that
on the 6th day of April, 1880, on nomination of President John
Taylor, Apostle Wilford Woodruff was made the general super-
intendent, with Joseph F. Smith and Moses Thatcher as his coun-
selors, and with Junius F. Wells, Milton H. Hardy, Rodney C.
Badger as assistants to the general superintendency, with Heber
J. Grant as secretary and William S. Burton as treasurer. So
that for forty-one years, last April, I have been associated a9 a
general officer in the Mutual Improvement labors of the Lat-
ter-day Saints, and I have had very great pleasure in these labors.
I find in this same article a little remark regarding the object of
the association that I shall not take your time to read. From
the very first we have repeated again and again, and had it pub-
lished very many times, the original statement made in the letter
that was sent forth by President Brigham Young regarding

The Object to be Accomplished in the Young Men's Mutual
Improvement Association

"Let the keynote of your work be the mutual improvement of the
youth, the establishment in the youth of an individual testimony of the
truth and magnitude of the great latter day work, the development of the
gifts within them that have been bestowed upon them by the laying on of
the hands of the servants of God; cultivating a knowledge and an application

♦Delivered at the M. I. A. Conference, Sunday, June 12 1921.

866 IMPROVEMENT ERA

of the eternal principles of the great science of life. And furthermore,
that they may have an opportunity to be encouraged in bearing testimony
to and speaking the truths of our holy religion. Let the consideration of
these truths and principles be the ground-work and leading idea of
every such association, and on this foundation of faith in God's great lat-
ter day work let their members build all useful knowledge by which they
may be useful in the establishment of his kingdom. (Signed) Brigham
Young."

I feel that the receiving of a testimony is the one great
central object to be accomplished in these associations of our
young men and young ladies. We, of course, seek after knowl-
edge, light and intelligence and to inform ourselves upon all
matters of importance. The glory of God, we have been told
by the Prophet Joseph, is intelligence; and we desire to gain
knowledge and to become as intelligent as we possibly can, but
above and beyond all other things the fathers and the mothers
in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints desire that
their sons and daughters shall secure an abiding testimony, an
absolute and a perfect knowledge regarding the divinity of the
work in which we are engaged. That is of more value than any-
thing else in this world, provided, of course, that those of us who
receive that testimony, who obtain the knowledge that we are
engaged in God's great work, abide therein and continue in the
faith that this gospel, commonly called "Mormonism," is in very
deed the plan of life and salvation; is in very deed the gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ, the plan of redemption for mankind. I feel
that we cannot hark back too often to the foundation, so to
speak, upon which these institutions have been builded and
revert to the main, the central object for which they were or-
ganized.

I remember speaking, upon one occasion, in one of our
great Church schools, and I said that I hoped it would never
be forgotten that the one and only reason why there was any
necessity for a Church school was to make Latter-day Saints.
If it were only for the purpose of gaining secular knowledge or
improving in art, literature, science and invention, so far as our
information was concerned, and adding to it on these subjects,
that there was no need of Church schools, because we could gain
these things from our secular schools supported by the taxation
of the people; and that we had an abundance of uses for all
the means that the Church possesses, all the tithing that might
come into our hands, without expending vast sums of money
upon Church schools. But if we kept in our minds the one
central thing, namely, the making of Latter-day Saints in our
schools, then they would be fulfilling the object of their exist-
ence. The amount of money expended would cut no figure at
all, because we cannot value in dollars and cents the saving of a

SIGNIFICANT COUNSEL TO YOUNG PEOPLE 867

single soul. I have remarked that if all our missionary labors
in the great country of Germany, up to the day that Karl G.
Maeser was converted, had been expended in vain and we had
only captured that one great educator, it was worth all that
had been expended up to that time. I remember upon one oc-
casion remarking that if the Brigham Young University had
done no more than to convert and graduate President Stephen L.
Chipman, of the Alpine stake of Zion, it had accomplished
enough to compensate us for the money expended there. If we
can make Latter-day Saints of the boys and the girls who attend
our Mutual meetings, and who take part in our programs, if we
can fulfil this object as laid down by the founder of these as-
sociations, President Brigham Young, and get a testimony, an
abiding knowledge in the hearts of the youth of Zion regarding
this work, then these associations will have justified themselve ,
and we will have the blessings of Almighty God upon our la-
bors.

Thousands have Received a Testimony Through the M. I. A.

We find recorded in section 18, Doctrine and Covenants,
reference to the calling of the Twelve Apostles, designating
Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer as among those who were
to choose them. We find recorded in that section:

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God ;

"For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh;
wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and
come unto him. • . .

"And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all
men unto him, on conditions of repentance;

"And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth.

"Wherefore you are called to cry repentance unto this people;

"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repent-
ance unto this people, and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great
shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father.'

"And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have
brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your
joy if you should bring many souls unto me?

I feel assured that there are hundreds, yes, that there are
thousands of young Latter-day Saints men and women who
have been brought to a knowledge of the gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ, who ha^e received the witness in their very hearts
and souls of the divinity of this work, through these Mutual Im-
provement Associations; therefore, we are in very deed fulfilling
the object of the creation of these associations.

// Ye Have Desires to Serve God, Ye are Called to Work
I am convinced that our young people, in these associations,
have come as near fulfilling one of the most splendid of all the

868 IMPROVEMENT ERA

revelations contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, as any
other people that are engaged in labor for the salvation of the
souls of men. This is only a little short section of seven verses,
and I will read it. It was given in February, 1829, a little over
a year before the Church was organized, to the father of the
Prophet Joseph Smith:

•'Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the
children of men;

"Therefore, 0 ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve
him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand
blameless before God at the last day;

"Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work,

"For behold the field is white already to harvest, and lo, he that
thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he
perish not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

"And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of
God, qualify him for the work.

"Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly
kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

"Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you.
Amen."

I repeat: "Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God, ye are
called to the work."

I believe that the young men and the young ladies in our
Improvement Associations have desires to work, that they have
always had such desires. I have found an enthusiasm, an energy,
a determination and a faith upon the part of the ward, the stake,
and the general officers of these associations from the time, as
a boy, that I was first associated with them, that has been very
pleasing to me.

A Personal Experience '

One of the incidents in my life that I look back upon with
pleasure is that when the first Young Men's Mutual Improve-
ment Association was organized, under the direction of Presi-
dent Brigham Young, that association was organized in the Thir-
teenth ward of this city, and I had the honor, as a boy, of being
made one of the counselors to the president of that association,
the late Henry A. Woolley, a son of the late Bishop Edwin D.
Woolley, a man of integrity and devotion from his boyhood to
the day of his death, a worthy son of a worthy sire — and from
that day until now I have had a desire to labor, and have had
the opportunity to labor given to me in these associations. I re-
call, with a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction, that when one
of the superintendency of the Young Men's Association failed to
live up to the requirements — not that I rejoiced in that, but
when he lost his standing as one of the general authorities and
at the same time his position as one of the superintendency — I of-

SIGNIFICANT COUNSEL TO YOUNG PEOPLE 869

fered a prayer to the Lord, having the desire in my heart to
labor among the youth of Zion, asking that 1 might be called
as one of the superintendency. I bowed down in my room and
prayed for the privilege of working. I never asked for any
other office, political or religious, in my life, but I did ask for
the privilege of being one of the superintendency. Soon after,
when in the office of the Presidency of the Church, I was
chosen in connection with Brother Roberts here, to be assistant
to Brother Woodruff, Brother Joseph F. Smith being at the time
also an assistant, so that for a short time we had three assistants
to President Wilford Woodruff, and from that day until the
present I have labored, and I have labored with energy, and zeal
in each and every office that I have held in this Mutual Im-
provement work, and have found great pleasure, joy and satis-
faction in my labors; and in my feelings I have never lost sight
of that keynote, so to speak, that President Brigham Young gave.

President Grant's Message to the Young People of the Church

I was asked to give a message to the young people here
today, "A message to the young people of the Church," and my
message to the young people of the Church is this:

Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of the true and the liv-
ing God. Joseph Smith was the instrument in the hands of God
of establishing upon the earth the true gospel of the Lord Jesu3
Christ; Brigham Young was the lawful successor to Joseph
Smith, and Brigham Young gave to all the youth of Israel as-
sociations for their improvement, but the keynote he gave to
those associations was that they should secure a testimony of
this gospel.

Advice on How to Obtain a Testimony

I say to all Israel — to the youth of Israel particularly — join
these associations, join them with a desire, and with a prayer
in your hearts, if you do not have a knowledge of the divinity
of this work, that God will give that knowledge to you. I have
heard President Young and other men say many times that more
often have young people received a testimony, in their very
souls, of the divinity of this work, while standing upon their
feet than they ever received while kneeling and praying for that
testimony; that under the inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord
there has come to them, the rich outpouring of that Spirit, that
their souls have been flooded with light and the knowledge that
comes from God through the Holy Spirit. They have had the
witness come into their hearts whereby they have been able to
testify that they do know of a surety that they are engaged in
the plan of life and salvation ; that they do know of a surety that

870 IMPROVEMENT ERA

God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was and
is a prophet of the true and living God.

Illustrations

Never while I live shall I forget the first rich outpouring
of the Spirit of the Lord to me as a young man while proclaim-
ing this gospel, by the inspiration of that Spirit. By the aid of
that Spirit I was enabled to preach with freedom, force, and
power, because I had the Spirit of the Lord, which testified to
me of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have referred to
it many times, and I shall never fail to be grateful for it. I
was then a young man, not twenty-four years of age, with little
experience, never having occupied any position in the Church
except that of a teacher — and I was really not a teacher; I very
faithfully visited the members on the block where I was ap-
pointed to teach — reguarly for several years, never failed once
a month to go around and meet everybody, but all I did was to
listen to the late Hamilton G. Park teach the people, one of
whom I was. I owe much of my love of the gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ to the wonderful testimonies and the inspirational
teachings of that man to the Latter-day Saints as a block-teacher.
Practically all the teaching I did was to listen to him, and then
at his request, at the monthly meetings, with Bishop Woolley
and his counselors and the teachers in our ward, I made the re-
ports. But as a boy, without experience, never having spoken
in public in my life, for any length of time, never ten minutes
at once, I was called to preside over a stake of Zion. I remem-
ber preaching and telling everything I could think of, and some
of it over twice, and ran out of ideas in seven minutes and a
half by the watch. Among other things, I told the people that
I knew nothing of the duties that devolved upon me, but with
the help of the Lord I would do the best I could, and that with
his help I had no fear at all but what I could get. along. I re-
member a good brother telling me that I had made a very se-
rious mistake, that I had destroyed my influence by telling the
Saints I did not know anything.

"Well," I said, "they may discover that I have a little sense,
later on, and that will agreeably surprise them."

I think you make no mistake in not pretending you know
something when you do not.

The next Sunday I did not do any better. I ran out of
ideas in six or seven minutes. The next Sunday I did the same.
The following Sunday I took a couple of very excellent preach-
ers with me and went away down to the south end of Tooele
county, the farthest settlement, to the little town of Vernon,
sometimes called String Town, because it covered a long string
of ranches. There was a little log meetinghouse, and, as I was

SIGNIFICANT COUNSEL TO YOUNG PEOPLE 871

walking to meeting with the late High Councilor in the Ensign
stake of Zion, John C. Sharp, who was then the bishop of
Vernon, I looked around and said: "Why, Bishop, there is
nobody going to meeting."

"Oh," he said, "I think there will be somebody there." We
were walking up a little hill from his home. The meetinghouse
was not in sight. When we reached the top of the hill, I saw a
number of wagons around the meetinghouse, but I did not see
a soul going to meeting. "Well," I said, "there are some wagons
there, but I don't see anybody going to meeting."

He said: "I guess there will be somebody in the meeting-
house." We walked into the meetinghouse two minutes to 2
o'clock, and the house was full, every seat occupied, and we
were the last people to come in. At 2 o'clock, promptly, we be-
gan the meeting. Brother Sharp told me he had tried to edu-
cate the people to be seated before 2 o'clock; and, apparently,
he had succeeded. I got up to make my little speech of five, six
or seven minutes, and I talked for forty-five minutes, with as
much freedom and as much of the Spirit of the Lord as I have
ever enjoyed in preaching the gospel, during the forty years
that have passed since then. I could not restrain the tears of
gratitude which I shed that night, as I knelt down and thanked
God for the rich outpouring of his Holy Spirit, for the testimony
that had come into my heart and soul, confirming the knowledge
that I had of the gospel, giving me increased power, because of
the knowledge that I had that God, by his Holy Spirit, had in-
spired me to proclaim this gospel.

I received another lesson the next Sunday for which I have
been just as grateful, although not as happy over it. I went
to Grantsville, the largest ward in the Tooele stake of Zion, and
I approached the Lord with much the same attitude as Oliver
Cowdery when he told the Lord, "I want to translate," and the
Lord told him he could translate. But, failing, he was later told,
he did not study it out, and he did not pray about it, and he
did not do his share. I told the Lord I would like to talk again
to the Saints in Grantsville. I got up and talked for five minutes,
and I sweat as freely, I believe, as if I had been dipped in a
creek, and I ran out of ideas completely. I made as complete a
"fizzle," so to speak, of my talk, as a mortal could make. I did
not shed any tears of gratitude, but I walked several miles away
from that meetinghouse, out into the fields, among the hay and
straw stacks, and when I got far enough away, so that I was sure
nobody saw me, I knelt down behind one of those stacks and I
shed tears of humiliation. I asked God to forgive me for not
remembering that men can not preach the gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ with power, with force, and with inspiration only as

872 IMPROVEMENT ERA

they are blessed with power which conies from God; and I told
him there, as a boy, that if he would forgive me for my egotism,
if he would forgive me for imagining that without his Spirit any
man can proclaim the truth and find willing hearts to receive
it, to the day of my death I would endeavor to remember
from whence the inspiration comes, when we are proclaiming
the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the plan of life and salvation
again revealed to earth. I am grateful to say that during the
forty years that have passed since then, I have never been hu-
miliated as I was humiliated that day; and why? Because I
have never, thank the Lord, stood upon my feet with an idea
that a man could touch the hearts of his hearers, be they Latter-
day Saints or simmers, except that man shall possess the Spirit
of the living God, and thus be capable of bearing witness that
this is the truth that you and I are engaged in.

I have never stood before an audience, except with a hum-
ble prayer in my heart that I might be blessed of the Lord with
that same Spirit that came to me as an inexperienced and unin-
formed boy, and that brought to my mind passage after passage
of scripture that I had learned as a child — not because I appre-
ciated what I was learning, nor because I thoroughly under-
stood those chapters that I learned in the Thirteenth Ward Sun-
day School, which were the first five chapters, as I remember
it, in Jaques' Catechism. They offered a book that I wanted, as
a prize to the one who would learn those five chapters, and
repeat them the most perfectly, and I won the prize. It was
the prize I was after. I did not thoroughly comprehend the
Scripture, but in proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ, those passages that had apparently entirely gone from
my mind, returned to me by the gift of the Holy Ghost. The
Lord shall bring to our memory the things that we have learned.
The things that we have forgotten, we will have brought to us
in the moment when we need them. No man can proclaim the
gospel under the inspiration and power of the Spirit of the liv-
ing God, as I did as a boy, but what that man feels, knows and
understands that he has been blessed of the Lord Almighty, and
he is able to testify of the power of God that comes when we
proclaim this gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We often laugh when the story is told of the good old sister
who went to a fast meeting. For twenty long years she had
attended such meetings but had never borne her testimony.
When she came home, on this occasion, she said : "That was the
finest meeting I ever attended." They said: "Why, who spoke?"
She said: "I did." It was the finest meeting to her.

The finest meeting of my life, up to the time that I was a
boy of twenty-four, was in Vernon, Tooele county. Who spoke?
I did. How? By the inspiration of the Lord. I was fed of

SIGNIFICANT. COUNSEL TO YOUNG PEOPLE 873

the Holy Ghost as I had never been fed before. I was blessed
of the Lord God Almighty in very deed as I had never been
blessed before, while proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ. It was to me the finest of all fine meetings. If people
are hungry, their hunger will not be satisfied by somebody else
partaking of food. I was hungry to proclaim the gospel of our
Lord. I was studying, I was trying to prepare myself to fulfil the
duties and the obligations resting upon me as president of a stake
of Zion,and the Lord Almighty came to my rescue. He fed my
soul, he filled me with the Holy Ghost who giveth utterance,
that I could testify with a power and force that I had never
been able to exert prior to that time. This experience of mine is
the experience of hundreds and thousands.

One of the sisters, this morning, speaking in the testimony
meeting, announced that she had understood, in conversation
with some of the elders who had labored under my jurisdiction,
while I presided over the European Mission, that I had told
those elders: "Whenever you are standing upon your feet, and
you find that your mind is a blank, that you have nothing to
say, I promise you, as a servant of the Lord and the president
of this mission, that if you will testify, as you have the right
to do, because of the knowledge you have, that Joseph Smith
was a prophet of the true and the living God, the Lord Almighty
through the inspiration of his Spirit will give you utterance, and
you shall have liberty in proclaiming the gospel, upon such oc-
casions." This sister said she had understood that that promise
had been fulfilled. I can say to this congregation that I have
had scores and scores of young men come to me when they were
released to return home, and I never had one soul tell me any-
thing to the contrary. *

I, myself, time and time again, when I have been called
upon to speak from this stand and in other places, and have
thought — "What on earth can I say?" "I don't feel like saying
a word; my mind is a blank;" I have used my own advice to
those elders, and have borne witness to the knowledge that I
possess that Joseph Smith was in very deed a prophet of the
living God, and my mind has immediately been opened. I have
had utterance, and have been able to preach with freedom and
force the equal, if not the superior, to any other sermon that I
have ever been able to deliver.

Obtain a Knowledge of the Divinity of the Church of Christ

The one central thing, the one great message that I desire
to deliver to the youth of Zion is to get a knowledge of the di-

874 IMPROVEMENT ERj\

vinity of this work, and then to love the work and to follow
out the admonition given to the father of the Prophet Joseph
Smith :

'Oh ye that engage in the service of the Lord, see that ye
serve him with all your might, mind and strength"

How to Serve the Lord

That is the central message that I wish to deliver. But how
can we serve the Lord? By obeying his commandments. Faith
without works is dead, like the body without the spirit.

Let the young people be honest tithe-payers; let the young
people observe the Word of Wisdom; let the young people at-
tend to their secret prayers and supplicate God, night and morn-
ing for the direction of his Holy Spirit; let them honor their
fathers and their mothers, that their days may be long in the
land which the Lord their God has given them.

The M. I. A. Slogans

Let us remember and read over and over again the slogans
that these associations have adopted:

"We stand for a sacred Sabbath and a weekly half holiday."
A sacred Sabbath is not automobile-riding to the canyons on
Sunday. A sacred Sabbath is not going out on excursions on
Sunday. A sacred Sabbath is to attend to our meetings and to
read the Scriptures, to supplicate God, and to have our minds
set upon the things that are calculated to save us in this life
and in the life to come. I believe that we have accomplished
a great deal in our associations, and that many young people
have learned to honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy, because
of this slogan. I believe that there is many a farmer who
thought his boy had to work from sun-up till away after dark,
six days in the week, and then, of course, there were chores,
like milking the cows and taking care of the pigs and doing lots
of things for Sunday included, so that there was never a chance
for the boy to have an opportunity to play. I believe, actually,
that some people have concluded that a boy is entitled to physi-
cal exercise with pleasure attached, instead of getting it by milk-
ing cows or currying horses.

"We stand for a weekly home evening." I believe that there
are many careless, wayward boys and girls who, because of the
weekly home evening, have been touched by the testimony and
experiences of their fathers and mothers, regarding the great
blessings of God in their labors; that these weekly home even-
ings have made an impression on their hearts for good, and that
fathers and mothers have been able to save their children more
easily than they would have done without observing this slogan.

SIGNIFICANT COUNSEL TO YOUNG PEOPLE 875

"We stand for state and nation-wide prohibition" I give to
the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Improvement Associations
a world of credit for bringing to our state state-wide prohibition.
I remember one man saying to me, in the Prohibition and Bet-
terment League, when things were not going just exactly to suit
him politically, "Oh, this league don't amount to anything, any-
how." He was one of the officers. I said, "Oh, doesn't it?"
He said, "No; nobody behind it." I said: "You are the worst
fooled man in town. All the Young Men's and the Young La-
dies' Mutual Improvement Associations are behind this league,
and this league is just a kind of a buffer, so to speak." "Why,
you have no organization," this party remarked. "Oh!" I said,
"Oh, yes we have ; and a letter over my signature has gone to all
the wards, to all the superintendents throughout all the state of
Utah, and we have a better organization in the Mutuals to carry
out this work than both of your political parties put together. It
is going to be done and done this time, whether your party
wants it or not." And he began to think that maybe there was
an organization. There was, and we "put it over!"

"We stand for thrift and economy." Do you know that it
annoys me now and always has annoyed me, to see people waste
things. There are many people of this class I call to mind — I am
not going to mention any names — a friend of mine used to pare
an apple so that he threw away a large per cent of the apple
by making the paring so very thick. He was mighty close-fisted
with his money. Now, you know there are many people who
mistake a man who is generous for being a spendthrift. If you
will just be economical and stand for thrift and economy then,
as the years come and go, you will be able to be generous, be-
cause you will have something to be generous with. But with-
out thrift and economy I am afraid you will never have an op-
portunity to be particularly generous.

"We stand for service to God and country." Could there
be a more magnificent slogan in all the world for young people
than to stand for service to God, the Creator of heaven and
earth, and service to this great,grand, glorious American coun-
try of ours? "Service to God and country" — We have proved our
service to God and country in all particulars during the late
war.

Now, it is very warm, and I know how tired you are. I
will ask you to stand up, and we will ask Elder Oscar A. Kirk-
ham to lead us in singing America and then I will go on with
my address. ["America" was then sung by the congregation.] I
don't believe there is another audienco of young people, of this
size, in the United States of America who could sing that
song with more of the spirit of it, and the prayer of their heart

876 IMPROVEMENT ERA

for the great God to protect them, than the audience we have
heard here today.)

"We stand for spiritual growth through attendance at sac-
rament meetings." I rejoice to know that the statistics com-
piled in the Presiding Bishop's Office go to show that during
the time after this slogan was adopted hy these associations there
was a very material growth spiritually as a result of increased
attendance at sacrament meetings.

"We stand for the non-use and non-sale of tobacco." I have
in my possession, and I intended to bring it here but overlooked
it in a multitude of other matters, a list of the merchants, from
Canada to Mexico, who have stopped selling tobacco, and it
took page after page of names written on a typewriter to make
the list of those in the different stakes of Zion, who have stop-
ped selling tobacco, so we have accomplished a marvelous and
a wonderful work in that regard. There is something in the
use of tobacco that blunts the finer susceptibilities, the gentle-
manly instincts of men. I say nothing about destroying the
finer, admirable, wonderful qualities of ladies, that every true
man almost worships. I know of some fine, gentlemanly men,
in all other respects, who forget and actually light their pipes
or their cigars in the presence of ladies. I am sure they would
not do it if they stopped to reflect, because they must know
that it is obnoxious to them. I have known of men who claimed
to be gentlemen who became angry when it was suggested that
they do not smoke in a banquet held in the Utah Hotel, on la-
dies' night. You know they have made their own homes smoke
houses, and their wives have become accustomed to living in
smoke houses; so, they think everybody's wives ought to like a
smoke-house. You know I like to sit in the rear car, the ob-
servation car, when I am traveling, but I cannot do it. I can't
take my wife out to enjoy the scenery. Why? Because the
gentlemen who smoke go out there and smoke and have not
enough regard for the ladies who do not smoke. I wanted to
write a telegram, the last time I was on the train. I went into
the observation car to do it, but before I got through writing,
just a telegram of fifty words, I picked up my telegraph-blank
and went back and wrote it on my knee, because the observa-
tion car was like a smoke house, chuck full of smoke. The
smokers talk about their privileges being taken away from them.
Why, do you know there is a smoking compartment in each
car? There were eight cars on that train, and there was not
anybody in those eight compartments, which were provided
specially for smokers, but they occupied the car that ought to be
for ladies and for gentlemen who do not smoke. If they want
to smoke they ought to have enough gentlemanly instinct to go

SIGNIFICANT COUNSEL TO YOUNG PEOPLE 877

into one of the other eight cars, and do their smoking, and
then come back and join the ladies, and those who do not smoke.
Thank fortune, there will be a few public places where they
can't smoke in the future, because of our anti-tobacco law — some
ministers to the contrary notwithstanding. When I went to Ja-
pan there was not a first-class hotel in the United States
of America that allowed smoking. When I returned
home, I was astounded to find a few that allowed it. I
went to England for three years, and when I came home they
all permitted it. I remember the first time I stopped in the
Windsor, which was then the best hotel in Denver, that they
had a very magnificent smoking room. I remember that when
one man visited there — Phil Robinson, who wrote the book en-
titled Sinners and Saints — he said he was delighted to find one
hotel in America that had some regard for smokers. I would be
glad now to find one that had some regard for non-smokers. He
said he afterwards learned that that particular hotel was built
by English capitalists who must have their big, nice comfortable
place for the smokers. When I arrived in England I often found,
if I entered a non-smoking compartment in any car where there
was a gentleman and his wife he would take out his cigar
and start to smoke. When I protested, she would say: "Oh, I
don't object," and I would say, "Well I do, and inasmuch as there
are twice as many compartments in these cars where smokers
can go, as there are places where non-smokers can go, I will be
much obliged to your husband if he will please go where he
belongs."

Why, I had more than one English lady, and on the con-
tinent likewise, who looked at me as if she would like to bite
my head off, because I had the audacity to go where there was
"No smoking allowed," and to "call the fellow down," who was
smoking. I first asked the gentlemen if he could read. He said,
"Yes." "Did you read the sign on the door — 'No smoking' "?
"Yes." "Well then, will you kindly put out your pipe" or "your
cigar." The wife would speak up and say: "Oh, I don't object."
But I always objected. If they would put a sign in observation
cars, "No smoking," I would object double-quick, and suggest
that, as there is a smoking room or compartment on every
sleeper, where a man can go and take his smoke, that he go
where he belongs.

"We stand for loyal citizenship." I am sorry that each and
every soul here assembled did not hear the very splendid ad-
dress on loyal citizenship by the Superintendent of these asso-
ciations, Anthony W. Ivins, but I am glad to know that that ad-
dress was taken down in shorthand and that we will have the

878 IMPROVEMENT ERA

privilege of reading it when it is printed in the Era. I recom-
mend it to each and all of you. (See July Era, pp. 836-841.)

Neither Murmur nor Find Fault — Be Ready and Willing

Now I am absolutely certain myself that about the most
interesting thing that I could possibly say just about now, con-
sidering the heat, would be to say, "Aimen," and for once to
close a conference without having the last meeting two full
hours, but before doing so I want to read a passage from the
Book of Mormon, which will not take more than ten minutes.
As a boy, I read the Book of Mormon. I fell in love with Nephi'
and more than any man who has ever written or preached, bar-
ring only the Savior — this man Nephi has been the guiding star
of my life. Study the slogans of the Mutuals, get a testimony
of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; and then learn the
words that I am about to read to you. Nephi found that the
Lord had commanded his father to send his sons to Jerusalem to
secure the brass plates containing the genealogy of their fore-
fathers, and some of the ancient scriptures. Nephi learned that
his brothers were complaining that their father had required a
hard thing of them. Their father said he did not require it, Jbut
the Lord had required it. "I have not required it," I think he
said, "but it is a commandment of the Lord, therefore go, my
son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast
not murmured." If I could only impress upon the hearts and
souls of the youth of Israel not to murmur, not to find fault, but
to be ready and willing to perform the tasks that devolve upon
them, I would feel that my address had not been in vain :

"And it came to pass that I Nephi, said unto my father: I will go
and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that
the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he
shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which
he commandeth them.

"And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words
he was exceeding glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the
Lord."

Every man, woman and child is blessed of the Lord if
they obey the commandments of the Lord, because he will give
us power, he will give us strength, he will give us inspiration,
whereby we can accomplish those commandments if we have
the heart, if we have the desire, and the willingness in our hearts
to perform them. Nephi and his brothers went, they tried to
get the plates but they made a failure and his brothers wanted
to go down to their father in the wilderness again, and they were
very sorrowful but he said unto them as follows:

"Behold I said unto them that; As the Lord liveth, and as we live

SIGNIFICANT COUNSEL TO YOUNG PEOPLE 879

we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have ac-
complished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us.

"Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the
Lord."

That is the keynote to the success of every Latter-day Saint.
Let us be faithful in keeping the commandnients of the Lord.
You remember how they went to work, they gathered up their
riches, which Laban stole, and he sent his servants to kill them.
But as they were running away from these servants, an angel of
the Lord came and spoke to them. After the angel had disappear-
ed, Laman and Lemuel again began to murmur. Why, do you
know I have met scores and hundreds of people who have said:
"If I could just see an angel, and hear an angel deliver a mes-
sage, I would be faithful all the days of my life." In this case
the angel had just got out of sight when these men commenced
murmuring. Men who are keeping the comandments of God do
not need an angel, they do not need a message from heaven, to
tell them what to do; they just quietly go to work and com-
mence to do it. But Nephi's brothers commenced to murmur,
and said:

"How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands?

The angel had told them he would, but they asked the ques-
tion:

"Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he
can slay fifty; then why not us?

" And it came to pass that I spake unto my brethren, saying: Let us go
up again unto Jerusalem, and let us be faithful in keeping the command-
ments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why
not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thou-
sands?"

Or the millions of the world? Remember the Lord is
mightier than all the earth; remember this is the Lord's work;
remember to keep his commandments, and God shall bless you
in time and through all eternity, which I ask, in the name of
Jesus Christ. Amen.

Discourage nest-robbing, boys, among your companions, and encourage
in its place an intelligent interest in the living birds.

Fish should be killed as soon as taken out of the water by a sharp blow
on the back of the head, that they may not suffer before dying. Such fish
keep better, and are better to eat; and the best fishermen in Europe and
America always kill their fish as soon as they catch them.

The Church as an Ideal Institution5

By Elder Adam S. Bennion, Superintendent of Church Schools

My brethren and sisters. — I pray, in humility, that I may
enjoy the spirit of this occasion, that I may be attuned to the
beautiful things we have heard thus far. As I dwell with you
upon those things that have come to us out of the past, if I may
indulge a little liberty with the topic, I should like to address
myself, sustained by your faith and prayers, to "The Church as
a Church of Ideals."

A Heritage of Latter-day Saint Ideals

The Church has builded us an empire. It has given us
this and many other beautiful buildings. Wherever we travel
in its established stakes we enjoy its wonderful contribution
to us in material and physical things. But above all these
things, we here tonight enjoy a heritage beyond compare, — a
heritage of Latter-day Saint ideals.

I was impressed with the stanzas of that hymn by W. W.
Phelpst, as they were recited tonight:

There is no end to virtue,

There is no end to might,
There is no end to wisdom,

There is no end to light.

There is no end to union,

There is no end to youth,
There is no end to priesthood,

There is no end to truth.

Moral Condition of Young Men and Women

It is timely that we address ourselves tonight to the ques-
tion of Latter-day Saint ideals. Seven years ago the world
was keyed up to a wonderfully fine pitch because of the patri-
otic response to the call to arms. Men fought nobly, and
women sacrificed nobly, until peace was declared. There has
been the inevitable aftermath of war, and the nations of the
world now suffer from the relapse spiritually, emotionally, that
always follows a war. I have been impressed within the past
month by press articles. If you turn to the Literary Digest,

*Delivered at the M. I. A. Conference, June 12, 1921.
tSee L. D. S. Hymn Book, p. 252.

THE CHURCH AS AN IDEAL INSTITUTION 881

you will find that each number for May has at least one strik-
ing article on the moral condition of our young men and women.
There are those who believe the boys and girls of America are
going cross-lots, at a terrific pace, to the nether regions; there
are those who believe the youth of America today are a finer
collection of young men and women than could have been found
at any other time.

It must be apparent to everybody that there is a good bit
of carelessness and indifference in the world. The condition
has been rather happily summed up, I think, in this little
skit with reference to the ladies:

They used to wrap heir hair in knobs

Fantastic, high, and queer,
But now they cut it short, in bobs,

Or curl it 'round their ear.

The skirts they wore would scrape the street,

And catch the dust and germs;
They're now so far above their feet,

They're not on speaking terms.

The things they do and wear today,

And never bat an eye,
Would make their dear old grandpas gray, —

They'd curl right up and die.

And the condition is not confined to our young men and
women. Read the article in the Literary Digest, for May 7.
"America is leading the world in divorce." I find Utah, our own
state, quoted as having one divorce for every 7.61 marriages.
I find in that article that there are six counties in five states
in America where there are more divorces than marriages. The
May 14th issue raises the question, "Is the younger generation
in peril?" And the article clearly points out that the young
men and women of America today are facing perils. The issue
of May 21st is even stronger; it gives the religious press com-
ments on youthful morals — comments very vigorous in de-
nouncing modern tendencies in the dance, in dress, in manners
and in morals. It is as if we could agree with James, the noted
psychologist, when he said, "It would seem that we cannot
have anything but we must have too much of it" — unless it may
be in the matter of dress, and perhaps he was not so concerned
with it in his day as we are in ours.

I find in the Digest, for May 28, rather a wholesome tone.
There is an article in that issue which declares that at Har-
vard University no student now will be given his A. B. degree
unless he shall pass a satisfactory examination in the Bible.
It is being introduced elsewhere in the hope that it may tone
down the American tendency to frivolity and carelessness. I

882 IMPROVEMENT ERA

am reminded of the articles that came out in the Atlantic
Monthly, in September, 1920, and the months to follow. From
one end of this land to another, you will hear great alarm ex-
pressed about the condition of our young people. I presume
we can concede it.

Our Forefathers Held Together Through Persecution

Our forefathers, in the days of the Prophet Joseph, were
held together through persecution; they stood firm by the prin-
ciples of the gospel, because persecution held them together.
They came out here with Brigham Young, and in their iso-
lation and their hardship they held close to the gospel of Jesus
Christ. Now we live no longer in isolation; we are thrown
into the world, almost of the world. Inevitably we shall face
some problems they did not use to face.

We Face Great Problems, But There is Light Ahead

I presume it will always be true that each succeeding gen-
eration is a little out of sympathy with the generation that pre-
ceded, perhaps with the generation that is to follow. At any
rate, it is clear that we today face problems that are as great
as have ever been faced in the history of the world. Do not
think I am going to get pessimistic; I am optimistic, entirely
so. I think I may indulge the new definition of optimism —
I have quoted it rather frequently; it was given us back in At-
lantic City: "An optimist is a man who can see a light where
there ain't none; and a pessimist is some darn fellow that
comes along and blows it out." I am optimistic enough tonight
to be sure there are lights to be seen ahead, lights in this prob-
lem of the welfare of the young men and women of this age.

During the last month it has been my good fortune to see
more than three hundred young men and women graduated
from high schools and other institutions; I want to give it as
my testimony here tonight that while there may be some young
men and women in the world failing because of carelessness,
and others who are indifferent, there are at least three hundred
young men and women who stand up in purity and in honor
throughout this good land, children of the Latter-day Saints,
who are clean and sweet and pure, graduated from institutions
of learning pledged to the support of this Church. I give it
as my testimony tonight that there is hope in the youth of
Israel, and it will be my happy lot to hold up to them to-
night, through you, the ideals, as I conceive them, in this Church
of ours which will make them even stronger men and women
— the nobility of this land as their fathers and their mothers
have been.

THE CHURCH AS AN IDEAL INSTITUTION 883

Logic That is More Dangerous Than Persecution

We need to hold to those ideals now as never before in
the Church. I say we are almost of the world. We no longer
are isolated, and our young men and women are being met
on every side with that kind of logic that is far more danger-
ous than persecution. I have no fear that the world will come
against us in persecution and convert our boys and girls; —
my fear is that in the easiness of modern life they may listen to
the palpable arguments of men and women not of us. I have
heard it said dozens of times recently, "It doesn't make any dif-
ference what church you belong to."

Our boys and girls are hearing these arguments: "You
might as well be a Methodist as a Latter-day Saint;" "It doesn't
make any difference whether you are a Catholic or a Christian
Scientist;" "We are all going to the same place; it doesn't mat-
ter what road we take." Tonight we have the problem of going
out to Magna from this building as a starting place, it doesn't
make any difference what road we follow; we may go down
south to 33rd, and west; or we may go out on the Saltair road
to the junction there, and drop down to Magna — it doesn't
make any difference. It is Magna we want to go to. Or, if we
want to go to Los Angeles, it does not make any difference
whether we go over the Salt Lake Route, the Southern Pacific,
or the Western Pacific; we leave the same town, and arrive at
the Pacific coast. One of America's leading writers, who was in
this city and delighted us with his poetry a short time ago, gave
expression to the same idea. "Mr. Bennion," he said, "I cannot
quite agree with you in your philosophy of 'Mormonism,' but
that ought not to concern us much, because we are all headed
for the same place; we all want salvation, and therefore, since
we are all going to get together up there, it does not make much
difference that you go one way and I another. You know as
well as I that if we were going out of Chicago to New York,
it would not matter if we took the Pennsylvania, or the Balti-
more and Ohio, or the Lake Erie, or the Wabash ; in the course
of a day or two, we would both get into New York. And so
with churches; it doesn't make any difference."

That is the kind of argument that I feel alarm for in the
case of young men and women. I give it as my testimony here
tonight that "It does make a difference."

Ridiculous and Fallacious Arguments

The argument of the roads begs the question; it assumes
that all the roads are equally good. I grant you that in the
hurried world of business, the roads are much alike; but the
analogy generally is fallacious. I ask my friends to consider two

884 IMPROVEMENT ERA

possible roads; one paved and the other cut up with chucks;
which would they take? I ask them to fancy a road clearly
defined and paved; and another one, with a big chasm along
the way over which there is no bridge. Which road would
they take? I ask them, even in the matter of trains, "Suppose
you had your two trains, but one of them did not have any
steam in the engine. Which train would you ride?" There
are churches in these days that, while they have the rails and
the cars, have not the steam, have not the Priesthood of God
to drive their trains through to salvation.

I have not time here tonight to follow that argument; it
strikes me as ridiculous; I find that it is not true. Men can-
not be converted to that sort of thing. It is as if these young
women were proposed to by the young men who wanted to
build them a home. Fancy the girl who would say, "It doesn't
make any difference what kind of a home I have. All I want
is a house, an adobe shack, a frame building, or a seven-room
bungalow, it makes no difference!" Or it is as if the man with
unlimited funds who wants to buy an automobile should say,
it doesn't make any difference whether he takes a Ford or a
Buick or a Hudson or a Pierce Arrow; they all have four
wheels; they all run by gas, and they all take him over the
same road; he might as well choose one as another. Find such
a man.

I believe that, in this great trip of life, we ought to pick
that car which we know will take us through most safely, most
certainly unto the greatest heights— will win us salvation and
exaltation. I give it, my brothers and sisters, as my testimony,
here tonight, that that car is the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat-
ter-day Saints.

Some of the Ideals of the Church

That testimony rests among other things upon the fact that
this is a Church of ideals. I cannot name them all, but in the
little time we shall be here, I should like to call your attention
to a few which have ennobled the lives of our forefathers and
made this Church what it is today:

/ — Loyalty

One of the keynotes of this convention has been loyalty.
It has been treated in a most masterful way by the superintend-
ent of this organization. Loyalty has always been an ideal of
this Church and is today and shall always be.

I was interested, the other day, in reading an account of
the first Pioneer celebration that was held in this valley, in
1849. I find that the Saints were proud then to have made, out

THE CHURCH AS AN IDEAL INSTITUTION 885

of imported material, a flag 65 feet long, which was carried
in that procession, because the Saints were loyal to the gov-
ernment, which had permitted them to be ousted from their
former homes. I read in that same program that the Con-
stitution of the United States, and the Declaration of Independ-
ence, were presented to President Brigham Young in the
Bowery, and he led the Saints in three cheers, that the Consti-
tution might live forever, — their loyalty pledged to the Con-
stitution and this great government of ours!

Illustrations of Loyalty

I was glad to know that President Ivins spoke to the sub-
ject of loyal citizenship as an objective, as a goal, as an ideal
of our good people. If there is any man who could well talk
to that subject, it is President A. W. Ivins. Out here from
New Jersey, in 1855; settling in Dixie, in 1861; called there-
after to go into Mexico on a mission, and called a second time
into New Mexico, on a mission to the Indians. After all that,
he then came back to St. George, honored there with a posi-
tion in the Stake Presidency. Politically favored and fortun-
ate, he had served a term in this state legislature of ours, was
made a member of the Constitutional Convention, and in the
year 1895, when all these things were his, when he was looked
to as the father of the southern end of this state, then came
a call to leave it all and go down into Mexico, as the remark
was passed, "Into that God-forsaken country."

I have often been reminded of a line that I heard in a play
once, and it is exemplified beautifuly here tonight in the super-
intendency of this organization. Mexico may have been a re-
mote and unpromising country, but it proved not to be a God-
forsaken country. The play to which I refer had this striking
situation. A young man, disinherited, forced to leave the East,
determined that he would go out West, into Wyoming, to make
a stake, and go back and win her whom he was anxious to win.
She got the news that he was going,- and while I presume she
did not tell him so, she let it be known that she would not have
him go out alone. She was made of the same good stuff that
prompted him to go out and win her. The fact is, she consented
to go, and they laid their plans accordingly. When the girls of
the club with whom she had been associated heard of her de-
cision, they said:

"Mollie, we cannot believe it; we thought you had pretty
good sense, but now to leave it all, leave the club, the city, and
all else and go out into Wyoming into that God-forsaken coun-
try! What is the matter?"

She turned to them — and I shall always remember her

886 IMPROVEMENT ERA

speech: "Girls," she said, "there is no country God-forsaken,
except the country in which man forsakes his God."

Loyal to his call, loyal to this Church, President Ivins re-
sponded, went into Mexico, made it a country where those men
and women could worship God, and through that service, lifted
himself, until today we honor him as the Superintendent of this
organization and a member in the First Presidency of the
Church.

Loyalty always has been a keynote in this State of ours.
My brethren and sisters — and may I speak as one of the third
generation of Latter-day Saints, concerning whom doubts have
been expressed? — I believe the young men and women of this
Church do stand loyally today; I am sure if they were called
to stand, they would arise. We are called, but often we cannot
suspect the call. There are rumors, there are reports, there
are those in this Church today following careless rumors, in-
dulging in independent thinking — so-called, — young men and
women and older men and women setting up their judgment.
They sustain the Presidency of this Church, as President Grant
has often so happily said, "whenever it is convenient for them
to do it." I plead with the young men and women of this
Church to stand by the ideal that has always characterized
"Miormonism" — loyalty to God's servants here and now — not to
Joseph Smith and Brigham Young merely, but to those who
guide our destinies today. I believe it is an ideal just as im-
perative now as ever before. Very much could be said on that
ideal but I must pass on.

// — Personal Purity and Chastity

I find that a second great ideal to which this Church has
always been dedicated is the ideal of personal purity. I was im-
pressed, this afternoon, when President Grant gave as his mes-
sage to the young people of the Church, that they should be-
lieve in Joseph Smith, keep the commandments, and particularly
should they keep themselves clean. He discussed, at some
length, the importance of abstinence from tobacco. I believe
that young Latter-day Saints should subscribe to that ideal of
personal purity.

Some Good Men Smoke — but the Saints Stand Above that

Goodness

These lines struck me as I heard them recently on a trip
through Arizona. They emphasize that it is an ideal not only
of our Church, but of all nature :

I have walked in summer meadows, where the sunbeams flashed and broke,
iBut I have never seen the sheep nor cattle nor horses smoke;

THE CHURCH AS AN IDEAL INSTITUTION 887

I have watched the birds with wonder, when the grass with dew was wet,
But I've never seen a robin puffing at a cigarette.

I have fished in many rivers, when the sucker crop was ripe,

But I've never seen a catfish pulling at a briar pipe;

Man is the only living creature, who pervades this vale of tears,

Who like a blooming threshing engine puffs smoke from nose and ears.

If Dame Nature had intended, when she first invented man,

That he would have smoked, she'd have built him on a widely different

plan;
She would have built him with a stove-pipe and a grate,
And he would have had a smoke-consumer, strictly up to date.

As it has been pointed out here today, there are good men
who smoke, but the Latter-day Saints stand above that good-
ness; they dedicate themselves to a principle, the purity of
which forbids that we smoke. I cannot conceive the Master
of the world smoking, nor any of his prophets. I would that
we could stand upon an ideal of personal purity that our young
men would be too proud to smoke — proud of their ideals handed
down by their forefathers.

We stand for the ideal of chastity, and always have done
so. Thanks to the teaching of good mothers all down the pages
of our history, "I'd rather have you dead than impure." That
is the kind of teaching passed on by our pioneers. God grant
that we shall continue to have it.

An Illustration

I was called into a home, not so long ago, to see whether
or not something could not be done to help a certain young
man. Upon investigation, I found the secret of the whole
trouble lay in the fact that there was a mother who had lost
sight of her ideal, had married not only out of the Church, but
had married out of her ideals, married a man untrue to truth,
untrue to her, and she now faces a problem of life with family
on her hands, wondering how she can give to them the ideals
from which they seem to be slipping. I would that all the
young men and women in this Church would marry in the
temple of the Lord, and there pledge themselves to that most
sacred vow, that they will keep themselves unspotted, chaste
and pure, one for the other, throughout all time, to pass on
this second great ideal of the "Mormon" Church.

/// — Service to Our Fellows

I would like to name, (merely name and pass on), as a
third ideal, the ideal of service to our fellows. I was impressed
in reading a little pioneer history the other day to find that
when the Prophet Brigham Young came here with that first

888 IMPROVEMENT ERA

company, he was not guided by an ambition to rule here; he
had scarcely recovered from his sickness when he turned to go
back to help to see that others could come to enjoy Zion. I
marvel at our missionaries, who go out and come back trans-
formed, almost spiritually translated. Why? Because they fol-
low that great injunction of the Master, "If you would be great,
be the servant of all." Service to others is the great keynote
to growth and to happiness; it is service that dominates the
missionary. It is service that has enabled one of the young
men of Utah to stamp himself upon the good Saints and other
good people of California. Claude Cornwall, I am proud of
my association with him, small though he may be, has gone
into California and written his name on the hearts of men and
women down there because he has gone out to serve. Service —
the service of our scouts, the service that young men and women
will find is the key to the chest of happiness.

IV — Glory of Progress Toward Perfection, with Illustrations

But I must pass on. I'd like to dwell just for a minute
on a fourth ideal that I think stamps itself upon every great
leader we have had. I think, perhaps I can make it clear by
reference to one or two men. Last Tuesday morning commence-
ment exercises were held in the largest educational institution in
this state, in which a particular man was honored. After he had
delivered his speech upon that occasion, he was so applauded
that he was called the second time, and while nothing was said,
except through handclapping, you could read it on the faces of
all those people there that they loved and honored that man.
A little later in the day, he was presented with a diploma in-
dicating that there had been conferred upon him the degree
LL.D. I was reminded that only back in 1872, that man was
born in far-off Norway. Twelve years later he came out here,
moved to Logan with his brother and a widowed mother. I
have not the time here tonight to tell the story of his rise through
hardship and poverty; how he went through the Brigham
Young College and later to Harvard, and later to Germany;
came back, qualified as a teacher, stood as the head of the Ag-
ricultural College of this state, came next to be the president
of the University of Utah, and now stands a member of this
General Board, and stands today an apostle of the Lord Jesus
Christ in this last dispensation. John A. Widtsoe pictures for
me tonight the fourth ideal I want to name, the glory of prog-
ress toward perfection.

I am impressed that we sit here tonight in the presence of a
man born to poverty, the only son of a mother who was de-
prived of the father of this boy when he was only nine days

THE CHURCH AS AN IDEAL INSTITUTION 889

old. Up through struggle, up through hardship — a volume
might be said here tonight in just recounting the climb of that
boy out of poverty, by the ladder of character — until tonight
we are proud to honor him with the highest position in this
world, the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints.

I find, wherever I turn, that it has been an ideal of ours,
"The glory of God is intelligence." Men shall rise through
manhood to Godhood. May the youth of Zion rise to all the
possibilities that are theirs!

V — Faith that Leads to Prayer and Action

One further ideal and I am through. I think it is the
crowning ideal of them all, the ideal that stands out above
them all. I would that I had it in my power to instil it in
the hearts of our young Latter-day Saints this world over. I
heard an interesting remark the other day that cryslalized it.
A good brother said, "In the good old days, when anybody took
sick, we used to send for the elders; now when anybody takes
sick, we send for the doctors." I heard a similiar remark from
the president of one of the stakes in southern Utah recently.
"What we need in the Church today is prayer, the kind of prayer
that Brigham Young used to believe in when he said, 'Prayer
will keep a man from sin, just as sin will keep a man from
prayer.' " What we need today, and I think we need it as we
have not done in a long time, is ideal number five: I call it
faith in the living God, faith that inclines a man to prayer,
faith that tells him that this gospel is the biggest thing in all
the world, faith that tells him that we should seek first the King-
dom of God and his righteousness, and all other things shall be
added.

An Affecting Illustration

I have been delighted within the past two weeks to visit
one of our schools in Idaho, the Ricks' Normal College. I be-
lieve that institution is doing as much to promote faith among
the young men and women of this Church as any other institu-
tion we have. I sat there through their commencement pro-
gram, and one meeting particularly thrilled me. The students
and the faculty organized, in a rather unusual way, a testimony
meeting, and for an hour and a half, sixty-one young men and
women with an occasional testimony from a father or mother,
stood up and bore testimony. There was scarcely a dry eye in
the hall when a little girl, Helen Balem by name stood up. I
give her testimony in conclusion because it speaks for all the
youth of Israel. A young girl, whose father has been dead a

890 IMPROVEMENT ERA

number of years, came over with her mother and a step-father
from England and moved up into Idaho. She is now left there,
the mother having gone to Canada. Her first contact with Lat-
ter-day Saints was in Idaho. She came home one day and
told her mother she had heard a wonderful story; she had
heard a story that seemed to be true — the real story of Jesus
Christ ; and when she told that it was the story of "Mormonism,"
the mother said, "You must not mention it again in this house;
if you ever become a 'Mormon,' you will cease to be my
daughter; you shall leave my home."

"All right," said the girl, "I want the privilege of going to
that school for two years. Let me study it until I am of age,
and then I promise you that I will come to you, and not till
then, to tell you about 'Mormonism.'"

And that little English girl stood up, and with tears in her
eyes, said, "I am looking forward to the day when I shall go
to my mother and say, 'I have found the truth, God's truth, in
the gospel of Jesus Christ.' I look forward to the day when I
shall be graduated from this institution and can be baptized in-
to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have faith
that I shall be."

As she sat down, she said, "Boys and girls, you ought to
be proud of your fathers and mothers. Thank the Lord," she
said, "that you have parents who teach you the truth of the
gospel and have faith in what they teach." I would that every
young man and woman could have that faith.

God grant that we may live up to the ideals of our fore-
fathers, that we, indeed, may be Latter-day Saints, I pray in
the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lonesome

Though the golden sun is rising o'er my home so fair today,

Yet I'm sad, and my heart is lonely, since you have gone away;

And at noon-time, when the bees are softly droning o'er the corn,

All the flowers nod and softly whisper, "You are left alone."

Then when the crimson sun is setting, and the bees have gone to rest,

"When the grass the dew is wetting, and the bird is in his nest,

Then my heart grows sad and dreary; when I hear the night bird call,

That is when I'm lonesome, dearie, and miss you most of all.

Through the long, dark hours of night-time, while the stars shine white

and fair,
You are with me, but when light comes then you leave me lonely there.
When my soul is passing heavenward, you will softly whisper, "Come,"
And you'll take my hand in yours, dear, while you lead me safely home.
Kirtland, N. M. Thora Gale

Fagged Out

By Claude C. Cornwall

[A one-act playlet written January 23, 1921, to give emphasis to the M.
I. A. slogan: "We stand for the Non-use and Non-sale of Tobacco."

Produced first at Los Angeles, March 5, 1921, then during the con-
vention tour of the Arizona Branches, March 8, 1921: President Joseph
W. McMurrin, Superintendent Claude C. Cornwall, Elders Axel A. Madsen,
Van H. Grant, Arthur S. "Woods, Melvin Freebairn, Miss Helen Bennion,
Miss Sophronia Quayle, were in the cast.

During this trip the play was produced at: Car S 40 "Calif ornian," en-
route to Tucson, March 8; this was the "Pullman train" production; Bing-
hampton, March 9; Pomerene, March 10; St. David, March 11; Bisbee,
March 12; Whitewater, March 14; Douglas, March 15; Phoenix, March 17;
Ray, March 18; Hayden, March 19; Mesa, March 21; Roosevelt, March 22;
Ocean Park, March 30.

At the Roosevelt dam, the play was produced in the Hotel Lobby. The
guests here made up a purse and gave the players $17. President Lesueur
took us from Mesa to the Dam in his car.

Produced during the M. I. A. General conference at the Assembly Hall,
Salt Lake City, Friday, June 10 : Spencer Young, Lew Thomas, Miss Fay
Cornwall, Don Carlos Wood, Claude C. Cornwall, Miss Helen Bennion. —
Editors.]

Scene: Interior of Mr. White's home. Evening.

Characters: James H. White, a business man; Mrs. White,
his wife; Fred White, their son; Roy Adams, works with Fred;
Miss Helen McDonald, a schoolgirl; Mr. Richard Howell, Mgr.
Howell & Co.

Time: The present.

(At the rise of curtain Mr. and Mrs. White are discovered
talking with each other. They are waiting for Mr. Howell to
arrive.)

Mrs. White: What did Mr. Howell say?

Mr. White: He didn't say much — only that he couldn't
keep the boy. He is coming here to talk with me tonight.

Mrs. White: But what has the boy done? You know Fred
has been working for Mr. Howell over a year.

Mr. White: It's a surprise to me — and a disappointment
— to think that one of my own boys can't keep his job.

Mrs. White: What has gone wrong with the boy?

Mr., White: That's what I can't make out. Mother, have
you had a serious talk with Fred lately?

Mrs. White: No — he avoids me — but that's to be expected.
He's eighteen now— at that age all boys are naturally shy.

Mr. White: But Fred has been peculiar of late. He

892 IMPROVEMENT ERA

doesn't look me squarely in the eye. I can't imagine what has
brought about the change.

(A knock is heard. Mrs. White answers the door and ad-
mits Mr. Howell.)

Mrs. White: Good evening — Mr. Howell, I believe?

Mr. Howell: Yes, Mr. Howell.

Mr. White: Come right in, Mr. Howell.

Mrs. White: (Takes his coat and hat, places them on the
rack.)

Mr. White: Will you sit here?

Mr. Howell: Thank you.

Mrs. White: (Excusing herself.) I suppose you wish to talk
with Mr. White?

Mr. Howell: Thank you — that is — there is really no reason
why you should not —

Mrs. White: I have a number of things to attend to —
you know, there are no office hours when it comes to women's
work.

Mr. Howell: I have heard Mrs. Howell say that many
times. (They laugh. Exit Mrs. W. They sit.)

Mr. Howell: Well — Mr. White. I have come to talk with
you about the boy.

Mr. White: Yes.

Mr. Howell: A year ago Fred came to me and asked for a
job. I put him to work. I have never seen more ambition in a
young fellow than he manifested at that time. There wasn't a
finer young man on the force. I used to watch his record every
day. It was a pleasure to see him gaining ground. No boy in
my employ showed prospects of a more brilliant future than
Fred White. I want you to know that. But the last few months
have been a puzzle. The very life has gone out of him. He
comes to work in the morning full of pep, but in an hour it is
all gone. Does he stay out nights?

Mr. White: Occasionally — but not often late.

Mr. Howell: He has lost all interest in the firm, and has
developed a total indifference to his work.

Mr. White: What could have broken down his spirit like
this?

Mr. Howell: The climax of the matter came yesterday. He
has been making collections from some of our customers. Gus
Harms is one of our largest purchasers. An order has been
charged to him for several months. I wrote to him about the
matter and he replied that it had been paid. I could find no
record so I wrote him again, and he sent me a receipted bill,
bearing Fred's signature.

Mr. White: Oh, but that must be a mistake! He has prob-
ably forgotten to turn it in.

FAGGED OUT 893

Mr. Howell: It is that kind for forgetting which makes it
necessary for me to let Fred go. I haven't taken this up with the
boy yet. I have come to you first.

Mr. White: This is a problem. (Rises.) Of course you can't
keep him. You wouldn't be expected to do that. But what
has brought about this change in the boy? I have noticed his
indifference around home. Our young people cannot assume
responsibility. We do too many things for them. The side-
walk keeps the mud from their feet, the automobile takes them
leisurely where we used to walk. If they are to be amused they
go to the movies, where it is all prepared for them. All they
have to do is to slip listlessly into the stream of ready made
experiences, and when responsibility comes, they fail; they
cannot stand up under its weight.

Mr. Howell: In a measure, you are right. And yet, that
shouldn't be the case with Fred. He has always had his duties
at home, has he not?

Mr. White: I have tried to keep him busy. It is only dur-
ing the last six months that his foundation seems to have been
completely undermined. (Frects whistle is heard outside.)

Mr. White: There is Fred now. Perhaps it will be well
not to let him know you are here. Will you come into the study?
(Exeunt. The doorbell rings, Mother enters, notices the room
empty, goes to the door and admits Helen McDonald.)

Mrs. White: Why Helen, when did you get back?

Helen: I'm not back yet, that is, not home. The folks
didn't meet me at the station. I tried to telephone, but there
must not be any one at home. I guess I look a sight.

Mrs. White: Didn't they know you were coming?

Helen: I wired from the train this afternoon, but they must
have been away all day.

Mrs. White: Fred is here. I heard him a minute ago. He
can take you over in the car. I know he will be glad to see
you.

Helen: Do you really think so?

Mrs. White: He speaks of you often.

Helen: Oh, it will be so good to see a boy again.

Mrs. White: Oh, that's right— you don't see many boys at
your school. And what have you been doing?

Helen: Oh I'm becoming quite a lady— learning to cour-
tesy, be sad, be polite— now watch this, "I'm so delighted to see
you, Mrs. White." There— how's that for a perfect lady?

Mrs. White: (Laughing) You will always be the same
Helen (Both laugh). Well now take off your things and rest
yourself. I'll go and call Fred.

Helen: My hair will all fall down if I do.

894 IMPROVEMENT ERA

Mrs. White: Then come with me. We'll find a mirror,
and then give Fred a surprise. (Exeunt rear. Fred and Ray
enter from outside.)

Fred: Come in a minute, Ray. (Calls) Mother! I guess
nobody's home. What do you say if we go for a ride?

Ray: It's all right with me.

Fred: (Picking up newspaper) . Harry Lowes lands homer
in the 13th. Lefty's long swat saves series for Seals. What do
you know about that? 13 innings and then lands a home run!

Ray: (Looking at paper). Must have been some game.
I'd like to have seen it.

Fred: Why didn't you go?

Ray: Can't afford the time just now.

Fred: (Sarcastically). Oh yes, you are a very busy man,
aren't you?

Ray: Yes, and I'm going to keep busy, too. The boss
treated me mighty swell today.

Fred: How?

Ray: Ten-dollar raise. (Triumphantly) . And he said if I'd
keep it up I'd make a place with the firm.

Fred: (Tosses his head). Oh well, you've got a stand in
with the old man. He's always treated me rotten enough.

Ray: Come on, Fred, you can make good if you try.
Howell will be dead square with you if you give him a chance.

Fred: Oh, you are going to start preaching to me, are you?

Ray: No. (Turns away from him.) Well, if we're going
down town, let's be moving.

Fred: All right. (Takes a "fake" cigarette from pocket
and offers it to Ray.) Here, want a "Fag?"

Ray: No! And I don't see why you use them.

Fred: All right, little sister, all right — but don't quarrel
with me.

(Lights match and holds it under cigarette, starts for door.
Ray has already gone out. Enter Mr. White followed by Mr.
Howell.)

Mr. White: (Calls.) Fred — is that you? Just a minute.

Fred: (Takes cigarette in right hand and hides it behind
him.) Yes, (Calls) I'll be out in a minute, Ray. (To Mr. White.)
What is it?

Mr. White: Do you know Mr. Howell?

Fred: (Takes off his hat with his left hand). Yes sir.

Mr. White: Mr. Howell and I have been talking things
over, and he has told me some things which astonish me. There
is no use beating around the bush. We might as well come
right to the point. Mr. Howell tells me there are discrepancies
in your accounts.

FAGGED OUT 895

™ed4Jn my accounts? IVe always turned them in straight.

Mr. White: Are you absolutely sure of that, my boy?

Fred: Yes.

Howell: Fred, here is a receipted bill from Mr. Harms.
This is your signature is it not? Did you turn that in?

Fred: (Stands defiant for a moment, and then breaks down)
No; I collected it all right, but that night I went out with the
boys, and lost it in a game. IVe tried to make it up, but every-
thing has been against me, and I couldn't do it.

Mr. Howell: I know how it. is, Fred. But I'm going to
give you another chance. This is just between us three— no one
else need know. I'll make up the money and you can pay me.
We'll just forget the whole matter. Come on, boy — give me
your hand.

Fred: (Hesitates and shows signs of uneasiness because of
the cigarette) .

Mr. Howell: I know just how you feel about it. (Reaches
for Fred's arm. Fred drops the cigarette, and Howell takes his
hand. Howell picks it up.) No! You don't use cigarettes? (Steps
back astonished).

White: I had never dreamed of that.

Howell: That makes it different. I don't know what I
can do now. That's too much of a handicap. You are not
Fred White any longer. You are a slave of the "Fag." Look,
Fred — this is your boss, and you can't serve any other. (Turns to
Mr. White.) Mr. White I am afraid I must re-consider —

Mother: (Enters buoyantly because she thinks the men are
still in the study) . Fred, I have a surprise for you.

Helen: (Enters joyfully). And I'm the surprise! (Helen
notes Fredas situation. He keeps his eyes on the floor away
from her).

Helen: Aren't you glad to see me? (She turns to Mr. Howell
and asks): What is the matter? (Goes to mother).

Mr. Howell: Fred has been carrying his head in the clouds.
His vision has been dimmed by the mist. He's "Fagged" out.
But I think his feet are planted on solid earth again, and he'll
come out alright — when the smoke clears away.

Fred: Goes to Mr. Howell and grips his hand.) I'm going
to try it, (Turns to Helen) and you are going to help me, aren't
you? (She takes his hand.)

Curtain

The Dividing Line

By Eva Navone

"There's no one but Dan Slocum," said Sally Murdock, her
lips tightening. "I must ask- him, Henry. I can't do anything
more." She stooped to fill the stove, and the firelight glowed
on her delicate face.

On the bed in the corner a wild-eyed man arose on his el-
bow. "You shan't go — to him!" cried Henry Murdoch. "How
can you think of it? That brute — that gorilla!"

Sally was calm and her pale lips were firm. "I can't help
it. He's the only man within reach." She covered the stove
and came distractedly into the middle of the room. The gath-
ering twilight softened the crude cabin of the recent settlers,
with its disorder of distress and its table by the window, stand-
ing as it had been left after Sally's hurried meal. "In a case of
life and death one doesn't choose. Dan must be human — some-
where." A weak wail came from the cot near the stove, and
the woman's face contracted. "I can't see Benny die!"

"You're over-anxious, Sally," said her husband, though
anguish crossed his face. "You'd only make matters worse. Dan
will curse you. And the cold night, with rain coming! Will
exposure do the child any good? Besides, you'd be leaving me
here alone and helpless."

"I'll put everything within your reach, dear." She was al-
ready busy with that duty. "I hate to leave you; but what
else can I do? I know you'll be brave and patient."

Her husband's face retained its hard, stubborn look. "I
haven't told you, but the day I won the lawsuit he threatened to
kill me if he ever found me on his land."

"He won't kill me," declared Sally, borne on the exaltation
of necessity.

"He'll rejoice in your distress. He'll insult you. If he con-
sents to go with you, it would only be to do you and the child
some evil. You mustn't go!" Murdoch sank down on his bed.

From Benny came the pathetic cry of a child in pain. Sally
went to the cot and picked up the bundle of bare legs, freckled
face and patched clothes that was her small son. She carried
him to his father. "Look at him," she said. "Can you lie there
and have him suffer through the night? Without help he won't
live till I can reach Tacoma by the boat tomorrow night. I

THE DIVIDING LINE 897

know it ! Let me go, Henry." In tears she knelt at his bedside,
her hand reaching across the boy to grasp Henry's bony fingers.

Murdoch turned his hollow eyes on the child, and ran his
hand gently over the quivering little form. He said nothing,
but his face showed a profound struggle.

Sally rose and pinned a faded shawl across her shoulders.
Her movements were jerky, and she looked about the room as
if she could not recall what she had to do.

Henry looked up. "What are you putting on your shawl
for?"

Unsteadily she went to the table, selected food and placed
it with a pitcher of water on a chair beside the bed. "I'm going.
I can't see him die."

"But it's useless. Dan will laugh at you — curse you."

Sally's eyes flashed anger. "Do you think a curse or a
laugh will stop me?"

Again Murdoch struggled to his elbow. "Is it possible you
don't know Dan Slocum? And it's going to be a bad night, with
cold and rain, and rough water on the Sound. No man could
row that distance in darkness and such weather."

Sally stood still and looked at her husband. The whimper-
ing of the child had ceased, and only the crackling fire was
heard while he glared at her. Determined, Sally went again to
the table and got together bread and meat, which she thrust
into the pockets of the house-dress she wore. From the cot she
took a blanket, lifted the boy from the bed and wrapped him
in it.

In helpless anger her husband looked on. "If I didn't have
a broken leg you wouldn't defy me!"

"I'm sorry, Henry. If you weren't helpless, I'd not have to
go against your will: you'd do what I'm going to ask Dan to
do."

It had become too dark to see Murdoch's expression, but
his wife knew that it must have been terrible. He lay down
and turned his face to the wall. "I'll never forget this," he said
bitterly.

Sally gathered Benny in her arms. "You dou't seem to —
realize. I'm doing right. Goodby." She paused at the door.
"And don't worry, Henry. I'll be back on the boat tomorrow."

As Murdoch heard the door open he started up. "If you're
going, take your coat!"

But she was already hurrying down the path. In her dis-
traction she had not thought of herself; she had picked up the
shawl which she was accustomed to putting on for her short
errands out of doors.

Through the thick dusk she made her way across the un-

898 IMPROVEMENT ERA

even clearing, stumbling over clods. Wild blackberry-vines
clutched her flying skirt; more than once ferns and underbrush
tripped her. She came to the boundary fence, over which her
husband and Dan Slocum had all but broken each other's heads.
Until now she had sympathized with her husband, but as she
scrambled through the fence with her burden, tearing her
clothes and hands on the barbed wire, property-rights became
trivial in the face of a great need. She felt that Dan, too, must
see that there was a time when dividing-lines went down.

Benny had sunk into unconsciousness; that was more ter-
rifying than his pitiful cries. She staggered and her progress
was slower. Slocum's ground was unfamiliar, and once she fell
into a puddle. She managed to protect the child, but her own
garments were splashed. Logs and briers hindered her. It was
too dark to pick a way; she had to push on blindly.

Panting and almost exhausted, she approached Slocum's
cabin, squatting among black stumps and wild bushes. She
knocked on the wall twice before a tousled head surlily greeted
her from the one window.

"What's wanted?" The voice was a bear's growl.

Struggling for breath, Sally gasped: "I'm Sally Murdoch.
I want help — for little Benny. I'm afraid he's going to die."

The light of the kerosene lamp behind Dan set his square
head in an aureole. Surprise and anger showed on his stern
face. "Henry Murdoch's wife, eh?" Childishly he rubbed his
eyes as if he had been dozing before his fire.

"You know Henry's in bed, crippled. And I must get
Benny to Tacoma tonight. Something has come on him sud-
denly—I don't know what it is. I must see the doctor."

His manner barely human, Slocum leaned on the window
ledge. "You can't. The boat won't come by till tomorrow
afternoon." It was a stupid remark, for Sally knew as well as
he.

"That's why I came." She struggled to shift her wearing
burden. "You've got a rowboat."

Dan muttered oaths under his breath, and leaned out to
peer down at the bedraggled woman. "It isn't possible!"

Her delicate face looked up out of the darkness. "Any-
thing's possible when you're needing."

Like an ill-tempered dog he shook his head. "It isn't like
rowing across the straits or down to Walton's Landing. Ta-
coma's a long way off."

Benny's dying, man! I'll go, too — I've got strong arms
and I'll take my turn." She was suddenly wild with despera-
tion. "In normal times there are dividing lines — what can be

THE DIVIDING LINE 899

done, and what can't. There's a boundary line, too, when it
comes to what one may ask — "

With a snort of disdain he checked her. "Wait," he growled,
and withdrew from the window.

There was a bumping within, the door squeaked as it was
thrown open, and Slocum's powerful figure, with dark unkempt
hair and reddish beard, red-shirted, his corduroy trousers thrust
into the tops of heavy boots lurched down the steps. He held
the lamp well up and rumbled to himself. His face was a bat-
tleground of hatred and whatever humane instincts were in him.
Her features working, Sally approached.

On the bottom step Slocum paused. He was as rugged as
stone; Sally as fragile as the ferns about them. A gust of wind
sucked the flame up the chimney, washing it with smoke.

Dan twisted his head rather than shook it. "You're ex-
cited, woman. No use. Take the boat tomorrow."

Sally regarded him imploringly and began to tremble — to
weep. She had not meant to, for she despised tears; but ex-
haustion and dread broke her restraint. "Tomorrow will be too
late!"

"Well, well!" he roughly said. "Let's see." Still holding
the lamp high, he reached his gnarled hand out toward the
bundle in the woman's arms. She aided his fumbling effort at
turning back the blanket from the pallid little face. From
arm's-length Dan peered over, and Sally saw his surliness re-
lax.

"Take the lamp." He thrust it into her hand, clumsily
took the child from her and went up the steps and into the
cabin, Sally following. She set the lamp on his table. The
child whimpered. Dan looked down keenly at him. The
whimper became a wail, and Benny struggled and called for
his mother. Timidly she approached, her eyes puzzling and
beseeching.

"Leave him be," commanded the man. "You're worn out
now."

Benny, becoming aware of the ferocious face bending over
him, and of the deep rumbling voice, showed terror.

"Keep still, sonny; it's all right." She touched his brow.

Benny closed his eyes to shut out the horror.

Sally took a glance round the room. Slocum's cabin was
rougher than hers, and more meagerly furnished. Where hers
made some truce with comfort, his contained merely the frank
implements of a rude life. It was starkly a place where no
woman was.

Dan's attention was on her. "Why didn't you put on some
warm clothes?"

900 IMPROVEMENT ERA

She looked down; her nervous slender hands passed over
the front of her dress and pulled the old shawl together. "I
didn't think. I'm all right."

"Sit down," said Dan.

With a quick upward glance she obeyed, and he returned
the boy to her arms.

He stumped about, rummaging among the garments which
hung on the walls, his heavy step jarring the timbers of the
cabin. He got into a heavy coat and threw another across a
chair. From his bunk he took a blanket, and lifted a lantern
from its peg behind the stove and lighted it. All was done in
silence, his face set in grim unfriendliness.

Sally watched him, and, convinced now that he meant to
help her, began to croon over the child.

Sourly Dan pulled on his shapeless hat and stood awk-
wardly, lantern in hand. "If you're going to Tacoma you'd bet-
ter come on," he snapped.

She started and wiped her eyes, into which weak tears of
reaction had come.

His face became almost blank as he set the lantern on the
table, picked up the coat from the chair and brought it to her.
"Put it on," said he, and reached for the child, this time more
carefully.

Without speaking, Sally rose and obeyed.

"You carry the lantern and the blanket," he gruffly ordered.

He puffed out the lamp and stalked to the door. Down
the steps he clumped ahead of her while she pulled the squeak-
ing door shut and followed. Dan's immense coat had a way of
slipping off her shoulders and encumbering her feet. She
caught it up and hurried to walk beside him, anxiously seek-
ing to handle the lantern in the best way to light his progress.
The narrowness of the path made her walking uncomfortable.

"Stay behind; I can see," he said.

She kept slightly to one side, so that the light should still
seek out the dim way ahead of his feet. Her thought of Henry,
helpless and angry on his bed, and of his warning that Dan
would only do injury, returned. But as she crept along behind
Dan's massive figure she was timid, yet not afraid; unable to
comprehend him, but upborne by trust. Every time he spoke,
the rumble of his voice made her start, but she was not afraid
— not even of the savage light burning in his dark eyes.

Suddenly he halted and faced her. "Who's taking care
of your husband?"

"Nobody. I left everything handy."

He was absorbed in swift and searching reflection. "Set
the lantern down and take the child."

THE DIVIDING LINE 901

She did so, wondering.

"Wait here," he commanded, and plunged off the trail.

Instantly the darkness engulfed him, but for a time she
heard him crashing through the shrubs. Those sounds died, and
Sally stood trembling in a vast silence, with only a small circle
of light on the ground at her feet. Had Slocum gone to do in-
jury to her husband? That was a foolish thought, but this
was a night of doubt. At last came the sound of a heavy boot
kicking a door in the distance and Dan's rough voice calling
some one. A thinner masculine voice gave a faint muffled an-
swer. There came the scraping of a shaky, dragging door, and
sharp indistinguishable words, followed by the sickening sound
of a blow on flesh, the sodden fall of something heavy and soft,

a strangled moan, a hoarse voice bellowing, "Get up, you ,"

with curses. Muffled speech ensued, then silence, and Sally's
heart was driving wild blood into her storming ears. Murdoch's
cabin was too far away; the man whom Dan was engaging could
not be he. She sank down on a log.

With the abruptness of an apparition Slocum stood before
her.

"I'll take him," and Benny was again in his arms before
Sally could quite comprehend. "Pick up the lantern and come
on," he impatiently commanded.

Down the muddy path toward the water Dan plowed; Sally,
struggling with her unshaped terror, picked her way behind
him. The night was like dusky velvet, in which trees and shrub-
bery were merely blacker masses, for the sky was overcast,
threatening rain; but sometimes a star forced a ray through.
At last Sally heard the lapping of water, and at the edge of
the beach they stopped. Dan's boat lay rhythmically grating
against a crude landing. They stepped jerkily into it.

"Sit in the stern," he directed, and roughly steadied her to
the seat. After placing the boy on her lap he used remarkable
deftness in wrapping the blanket about her feet and knees, and
then swung the tiller to her free hand. "You'll have to steer.
Do you know how?"

She nodded, gazing into his face, upon which the full lan-
tern light now shone. He did not have the look of a man who
might have recently slain a fellow-being.

He quickly turned, made sure that the oars were aboard,
fumbled with the painter, and pushed off. Like a clumsy New-
foundland dog he floundered to the thwart and took up the
oars. Under his prodigious arms the boat shot out into the
Inlet for a heading down the Sound.

A part of Sally's brain, detached from her maternal anguish,
^ave consideration to her companion. He was very strange,

902 IMPROVEMENT ERA

and, though repelling he fascinated her. Perhaps he was afraid,
yet brave. Was courage not that? With amazement and thank-
fulness she looked on his strength as he faced her above the
faint glow from the bottom of the boat. By love of her child
she was set apart from fear, but if she had been in Dan's place
her flesh would have tingled with an apprehension almost child-
ish; for the dark night, the long and treacherous waterway
ahead, the ominous sky, held tangible menaces. If a storm
should come up and send the water tumbling they might never
reach the city ; they might lose their way ; Dan's strength might
give out. It would certainly be a hard night. She thought that
beneath his savagery Dan must cherish a sort of fierce delight
in the struggle. Deep in his isolated heart, in which lived hat-
red for her husband, he must be glad to do and risk for her
and her child.

Yet the bulky smudge which was Slocum held her fright-
ened into silence. Once he growled back at her to mind her
steering, and she bent her attention to his sharp directions.
Though he was doing his best to help her he wanted no speech
with her; she was the wife of the man he would kill if —

At last she must break the silence. Benny's stillness alarmed
her more than his crying had. "The moon will be up directly,"'
she said. They were the first words she had spoken.

Dan looked toward the east and made no response.

The air was cold but soft. Dark clouds were racing above
them, although fortunately the surface of the water was breath-
less. Before long the waning moon came, a yellow disk push-
ing up above the line of the Cascades. Often Dan glanced at it
climbing the sky, sliding behind hurrying clouds, and looking
at itself in the quivering mirror of the Sound. After a time he
rested on his oars, slumped in his seat and breathed heavily.

"Let me row," Sally offered.

He raised his head to look at her. "Do you know how?"

"A little."

"Not strong enough. Keep your kid warm. Mind your
steering."

Two silent hours passed. One by one he peered round at
the projecting spits of land, each so like the others that at times
he had to stop and study the landscape to get his bearings. She
had already discovered that he depended more on his rowing
than on her steering to maintain his direction. She had lost
all sense of orientation; it made their situation the more weird
and distressing to her. Completely lost and in this man's hands,
she had not imagined that the journey would hold so much
ache and terror. Once she saw that Dan himself had mistaken
the way — or had it been she with an unwary slip of the tiller?
—and the bottom dropped out of her universe. But he onlv

THE DIVIDING LINE 902

brightened into alertness, studied the surroundings and put
about. Her heart grew sick with the delay, and she leaned for-
ward with tense concern, as if she would send the force of her
eagerness to help him. At last he picked up the course again.

"Was that my fault — getting lost?" she timidly asked.

His answer was a meaningless grunt.

Before long he began to rest oftener and sag more deeply.

Across the moon heavier clouds scurried. Rain began
to fall. In the midst of their discomfort Sally thought of the
food she had thrust into her pockets. "I've brought something
to eat," she called. "Rest awhile." He obeyed while she strug-
gled with her wrappings.

Keeping very little of the food for herself, she passed the
rest to him. He accepted it without thanks and ate greedily
in noisy gulps, like a starved dog.

"How's the boy?" he asked.

With a start Sally noted that his voice was different and
wavering. "He moves sometimes, but he doesn't speak — Benny,
child, don't you know your mother? — Yes? Now — "

Slocum suddenly changed to his brutal note: "Let him
alone. Do you want to start him howling?" Angrily he took
up the oars.

It was a long and dreary task for both. Sally knew that
Dan was suffering, and that even his great strength was wear-
ing down alarmingly. She was eager to help, but recalled the
scorn with which he had refused her offer.

"You're using yourself up for us," she finally was forced
to say. "I hadn't any idea it would be so hard and take so
long. Please, please, let me try!"

"Stay where — you are," Dan panted. "This is a man's job."

"Rest a little more, then," she pleaded.

"Time's valuable," he protested. "Benny's whimpering."

"How are you standing it?" She was trying to hush the
child.

Dan merely shrugged.

"Are you cold?"

"What's the use of talking?" he snarled in a sudden out-
burst of resentful impatience, and began pulling dully on the

oars.

Sally's heart contracted. She could not understand how
she had found the temerity to ask so much of this man. It
hadn't been for herself; she would rather have died than make
him suffer so much for her. She wondered if he understood —
if he knew the fierceness and the unselfish cruelty of a moth-
er's heart.

904 IMPROVEMENT ERA

The boat stumbled on, and Sally sat dumb with despair.
She no longer strained her eyes ahead; she was reduced to a
shivering, suffering heap, and held the tiller uncertainly.

"What's the matter?" Dan shot at her, making her start.
"Mind your steering."

She doggedly bent to it. Dan struggled on.

It seemed to her almost morning, but in reality it was only
a little while after midnight that lights began to blink cheer-
fully at them afar through the drizzling rain.

"Thank God, there's Tacoma ahead!" cried Sally, and raised
the child higher in her arms.

Dan grunted.

Slocum's boat crept along the piling under the shadow cast
by the dock from an arc-light some distance back from the
water. Sally was eagerly noting the electric points stretching
up the heights of Tacoma from the beach-levels of the Sound.
After a trying delay — there was something strange in the un-
steady slowness with which Dan searched the piles — a ladder
was found. With intolerable tardiness and fumbling Dan tied
his craft to a pile.

The climb to the dock-floor was short, but Sally marveled
at the time required by Dan to make in, in the chilling mist to
which the drizzle had fallen. As he emerged above the stringer
which anchored the heavy planking he looked about, fixed his
attention on something toward shore and hoarsely bellowed:

"Hi, there!"

A muffled answer came.
"Telephone for an ambulance! Sick child — mother — hos-
pital! Hurry!"

The only audible response was the uncanny flinging back
of his voice by warehouses, but he appeared to be satisfied. With
incredibly slow caution he drew himself up on the dock, lurched
dangerously near the edge, steadied himself, turned, lay flat on
his stomach and called to Sally as he hung his long arms down
toward the boat:

"Hold him up."

That was not easy, and was terrifying, for she had no prac-
ticed footing in a swaying boat. Dan seized the child when
she had waveringly raised him, and squirmed back with him
beyond her vision. She grasped a ladder-rung, hoping that Dan
would reappear and assist her, and fearing to attack her dark
and slippery task unaided; but he did not; and a heavy fall,
followed by a strange stillness and then a piercing scream from
Benny, sent sufficiency to her quivering body. She clutched,
clung, slipped, fought blindly and finally floundered breath-
less over the stringer. Benny his wrappings dragged away, sat
staring in whimpering terror at the big bulk of a man sprawled

THE DIVIDING LINE 805

silent and still on his back, his hat fallen, the white pinched
face — hardly recognizable as Dan Slocum's— upturned to the
irridescent arc-lighted mist.

Exhausted by her many anxieties and her long stumbling
walk from Walton's Landing, where she had left the steamer,
Sally, two days away from her helpless husband, flung the. door
open and stood eagerly before him. He started up on his el-
bow his eyes wide.

"Sally! Where's Benny?"

Her hand went to her breast and she sank to the floor be-
side his bed. She took his hand while she looked with a brave
smile into his face. "All right," she said, almost panting.
"There was a small operation. I left him at the hospital, and
came as soon as I dared to see how you — "

She glanced around — at the neat bed, at the perfectly ap-
pointed table alongside it, at the stove with its comforting fire
and something savory cooking on the top- — in a moment she
had taken in a rounded care equal to her own.

"Henry, who has been taking care of you?"

"Siwash Pete." Henry was smiling into her face and ca-
ressing her cold trembling hands.

"Pete!" Sally began struggling to her feet as she tore at her
wraps. "How did he — ?"

The grim old Indian himself, silent, kindly, startled her as
he humbly confronted her in the door, which he softly closed.

"Pete! It was you who came and took care of my husband?"

He nodded.

Sally was confused; her warm, sweet lips fell apart. "Who
told you I was going away? It was dark and your shack is off
the path — you couldn't have seen me going from Slocum's to
the water."

Dan Slocum tell me. T'ree ni' ago, w'en he tek you Tah-
co-mah." He recalled something, and covered the left side of
his face with an expansive paw.

Nothing escaped Sally. She darted to him, snatched his
hand down, and discovered a swollen and discolored jaw. "What
did that?" she demanded, gripping the hand she had dislodged,
and groping in the fog of her recollections.

The Siwash drew away and struck an attitude with a dignity
that failed to mask his embarassment. "Dan Slocum, he leaf you
on trail He come my shack. He wake me, kick my door, bel-
low like bull. Me come door. He say, 'Hen'y Muddoch leg
broke. His wife, seek chile, me tek Tah-co-mah dis ni . Her be
gone two-t'ree day. You go tek care Muddoch teel her come
back, damn 'im!'" The Siwash exploded the expletive, and
paused. "Me come."

906 IMPROVEMENT ERA

"But your face, Pete! How was it hurt?"

"MJe fall," but his eyes wavered under hers.

"Tell me the truth, Pete!"
- His dignity went upon the winds, and he turned and rocked
toward the stove.

She pursued him. "Tell me the truth!"

As he stirred something that simmered pleasantly he said:
"Me * sleepy, tire'. Me say, 'No can go. Seek.' — Him hit me
jaw, knock me down. Cuss me — Me come." The Siwash gently
rubbed his jaw with his left hand.

With a glowing face Sally smilingly approached her hus-
band's bed. "Dan was wonderful, Henry — a knight from an old
book on chivalry. Have you heard how he is? He collapsed
on the dock, unconscious, when we reached Tacoma. It had
been an awful trip. I took him in an ambulance to the hospital
with Benny. They said he was a sick man, but he escaped yes-
terday. Has he come home?"

Murdoch avoided her eyes. "Ask Pete. He's taking care
of both Dan and me."

She went to the Siwash and seized his arm. "How is Dan?"

This time the old man was steady. "Vair seek. Vair weak.
Een bed." Pete tapped his skull. "He say all time, 'Sal-lee,
Sal-lee, eef her come nuss me leetle bit me get well ker-week.
Don' you tell her, Pete, damn you!"

Sally was touched and thrilled. She turned to her wonder-
ing husband, a radiance about her. "You see, Henry, there is
no dividing line after all, when it comes to the common things
of humanity." Swiftly she donned her wraps in the glow of the
adoration in Murdoch's face.

He weakly expostulated: "Surely you're not going to him,
dear! You're worn out with the strain and loss of rest."

"I've never felt more able to help than now," she smilingly
returned.

She caught his hand and kissed it, and, though there were
tears in her eyes, they were merely a part of her exaltation. She
looked with a passionate yearning at her husband, kissed him
and turned to the door, having seen that he no longer hated
Slocran.

"Poor little Benny, I know he's crying for me. I know you
want me, too. But now I must go to Dan Slocum. I'll see you
in the morning. And after this we won't think so much of the
boundary line."
San Francisco, Cal.

God's Need of Man

By President B. H. Roberts, of the First Council of Seventy

And God made the beasts of the earth after his kind, and cattle after
their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind; and
God saw that it was good.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and
let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the
air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping
thing that creepeth upon the earth.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created
he him; male and female created he them.

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and mul-
tiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it. * * *

And God saw everything that he had made and, behold, it tvas very
good. Genesis, I.

The account of the creation of man by God, is used in
beginning the discussion of the subject, God's need of man, be-
cause it must be quite evident that God had need of man, or why
his creation? One must either concede some necessity for the
creation of man, some need God had for him, or charge Deity,
in such a capital matter, as having created an unnecessary thing.
Man's very existence, then, since God created him, or begot him,
is strong evidence that God needed man.

One does not need to search far for reasons why God had
need of man. The most obtrusive reason is found in the fact
that God needed man to round out to completion his creative
work in the earth. To what purpose had God created the earth
and all things in it, if man had not been created? How mean-
ingless everything else that was created would be without man!
High mountain range and expansive ocean; rolling hills with
verdure clad, and the level plain of fertile soil; rivers, brooks,
lakes, forests, flowers, sunrise, sunsets: the moon, the stars;
whispering winds, the gentle showers; the rising and ebbing
tides; the spring's bright freshness, the summer's glowing
warmth, the fruitful autumn, "grim," but restful, winter— all
these things without man would doubtless be as beautiful and
enchanting as now, but who would appreciate them? Who
would be enraptured of them? Who enjoy them, if man was

*A companion article, "Man's Need of God," appeared in the July
nnmber of the Era.— Editors.

908 IMPROVEMENT ERA

not on the earth? He alone of all the creatures in the world is
capable of marking their beauty, or feeling grateful for these
varied things, and the mighty changes that take place in nature.
He alone is capable of looking up through these things of nature
to nature's God.

He alone of all the creatures of the world is capable of as-
piring to comprehension of God, and to companionship with
him. Remove man from the earth, and what does it matter
that day and night follow each other? That seed time and
harvest time come and go? What does it matter that the horse
has strength, or the bee skill to hive the sweets of the flowers?
What matters the song of birds and the perfume of the wood-
lands in which they sing? What does it matter that the earth
has extensive coal fields, and under ground oil lakes? Or seams
of gold and silver, and stores of precious gems? Of what use
would all these things be, had man never been created? Of
no use, must be the answer; to no purpose, all this creative
energy, unless man comes to crown the work, and give it mean-
ing and purpose. Undoubtedly all nature was created for man,
and man for God. Otherwise considered, the creation is mean-
ingless, and void; if to man the created world would be mean-
ingless without God, even more so to God would the created
world be incomplete and without objective and purpose with-
out man.

When God had completed the creation of the earth and
all that was in it, save only man, he "saw that it was good?' ( Gen.
1:25); but when he had created man, male and female created
he them, and thus crowned his work, then "God saw everything
that he had made, and, behold, it was very good?' (Gen. 1:31) ;
for then surely it was completed. He unto whom dominion
over it was to be given, had come into his heritage; he for whom
it had been created was in possessioin, and "it was very good."

God, then, needed man for the completion and the glory of
his creation of earth and all things therein: for his glory,
through man, were they created.

n

The chief evidence, however, that God has need of man i^
found in the nature of God, the prime factor of which nature
is love. So pronounced is this attribute of the divine nature that
one writer of holy writ, without qualification, has said: "God
is love." And further he said: "He that loveth not, knoweth
not God," and in this was manifest the love of God towards
men, because that God sent his Only Begotten Son into the
world, that men might live through him. "Herein is love,"
continues this apostle, "not that we loved God, but that he

GOD'S NEED OF MAN 909

loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
(I John 4:10.)

This attribute of the Divine nature, love, implies the ne-
cessity of an object for it: and it also pre-supposes a worthy
object; one capable of responding in kind, for perfect love is
made up of giving as well as receiving. Otherwise he who gives
love would go unrequited, and there is nothing more bitter in
sorrow than unrequited love. It must be mutual in giving and
receiving in order that it may be wholly blessed.

It is written in the creation story of Genesis that after
God had created out of the ground every beast of the field and
every fowl of the air, they were brought to Adam to see what
he would call them; but for this lord of the new creation, Adam,
there was not found an helpmeet, a suitable companion, and
so one was made for him, and worthy of him, woman: kindred
to himself in nature and dignity; different from him, yet like;
and fit for love and companionship; complement of him as
he of her, making completed man — male and female, as God
created them. Completed man is plural.

If for man among the inferior creatures there was none
fitted by near equality with him for that close companionship
that would make the creation for him "very good," then we may
fearlessly conclude that in all the creatures below man there
was none worthy of God for closest companionship, intellect-
ually or spiritually. Nothing that he could love supremely and
be loved by supremely in return, and with the spirit and with
the understanding. Nothing that approached to nearness of
image or likeness; or that was of the same nature with himself.
Nothing like him in these creations lower than man, there was
with those creatures no basis for the fellowship of the spirit
and of the mind; nothing that could respond to the nature of
God. Nor could God love gases, or merely mechanical forces.
These were but insentient powers, without mind qualities, and
of importance only as they could be used to affect the purposes
of God in the works of creation, and in the maintenance of that
creation.

For God, then, there was no suitable companion in the
created creatures or forces lower than man; hence man was
created for God; in the very image and likeness of God was he
created; for union and communion with God; for companion-
ship and for fellowship, based upon the existence of mutual
characteristics, and attributes. These perfect in God, in man
imperfect, but capable of development, and by such develop-
ment at last approaching perfection, man shall become worthy
of God's fellowship and of God's love.

That God loves man, is evident in all the creation. It will
not require argument that the earth and the fulness thereof was

910 IMPROVEMENT ERA

made for man. That is sufficiently self-evident. And through-
out the creation are the evidences of God's care and love for
man. He has ever been mindful of him. Truly in the lan-
guage of the Psalmist, he has crowned man "with glory and
honor." He made him to have dominion over the works of his
hands, and has put all things under his feet. "All sheep and
oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowls of the air, and
the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of
the sea." (Psalms 8.) All through the revealed word of
God, also, God's love for man is an ever recurring refrain, and
God is ever seeking means to express it. Lastly and supremely
it was expressed through the mission of the Christ: "God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that who-
soever believeth in him should not perish, but have ever-
lasting life." (John 3:16.)

The counterpart of this, according to the burden of the
revealed word of God, is to awaken love in man for God. Hav-
ing chosen Israel through whom to express his purpose in hu-
man life and his relationship to men, God asks: "And now, Is-
rael, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but * * *
to walk in his ways, and to love him." (Deut. 10:12.) "Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God" (Deut. 11:1) is the repeated
love-hunger-cry of God through the Old Testament; and it be-
comes the dominant note in the New Testament, reaching its
climax in the supreme message of the Christ in summing up the
whole law, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the
first and great commandment." (Matt. 22:37.)

This proclaims God's need of man — God's love-hunger. To
love, and to love supremely. To be loved, and to be loved su-
premely. This the desire of God and of man. This the bond
of their union. This the glory and the joy of each, when at-
tained.

What a dignity is here for man! To be needed of God! To
be loved by him! To be the desired companion of the Creator!
To have fellowship with him! To be co-laborer with him in
achieving his high purposes in creation; and in the redemption
and in the sanctificatipn of the human »ace! This surely is
worth while. Worth existence, and effort and sacrifice — worth
everything. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath be-
stowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. * *
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear
what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we
shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man
that hath this hope in him [i. e. fellowship and companionship
with God] purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (I John 3:1-3.)

GOD'S NEED OF MAN 911

L* Envoi

Man's Need of God!
Gocts Need of Man!

These two subjects of my present writing: The equal values
of a perfect whole. Reciprocal conditions of the Finite, and the
Infinite. They lead to man's quest of God; and to God's crea-
tion and salvation of man. Man's glory to find God and to
form and maintain a perfect union with him. God's work and
glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life and joy
of man.

Man attains his glory by union with God, because in that
union with God he finds the completeness of his life, and har-
monious relations with all that is; and hence reaches the high-
est development obtainable.

God finds his glory in bringing to pass the immortality
and eternal life of man, because in so doing he makes it pos-
sible to have an object worthy of his love — worthy of his com-
panionship— and thus satisfies his deep yearning for love — to
love, and to be loved by man, in return. In that love both God
and man find incentive to action. To action that spells prog-
ress— progress that means growth, the one thing alone which
can satisfy intelligences and make existence itself worth while.

Live Well Today

It matters now how well you plan the morrow —
How many kindly deeds you think you'll do,

Or how you hope to cheer the ones who sorrow —
Tomorrow — when you've nothing else to do.

It cannot help you much to sit repining
Because of wasted hours you can't recall.

You'll never help the world by constant sighing ;
The past is gone forever after all.

The thing that really counts is "Are you living

The very best that you can live today?
By being cheerful, helpful, and forgiving,
To those you find in need upon life's way.
Mesa, Arizona Mrs. Ida R. Alldredge

Determined to Work

By Will Dobson

To almost every young man of this western country there
conies a time in life when he must have money but can no
longer go to his father for it. He must have a job. His father
may be able and willing to provide one for him. More likely
not.

When this time comes it is not enough that the young man
be willing to work. He must be determined. He must not
merely wait and wish for the job; he must go out after it. He
must do more than ask if there is an opening; he must use his
eyes and brains in seeing what needs doing, and then show his
prospective employer in a convincing way that the job does need
doing and that he himself is the one to do it. He must be de-
termined. Determination convinces and persuades where mere
willingness has no effect. Determination is the original self-
starter for which there is no substitute.

It is the story of Young John Edmonds that set me going
along this line. The reader probably knows of other cases just
as inspiring and strengthening to the backbone, but it will do
no harm to read of John. Whatever may be your opinion of
the story, as a story, it has at least the merit of being absolutely
true.

When John came to that time when he must have a job,
there was no father to provide it for him. His mother was a
poor widow with five smaller children to support. John had
always been a good worker for his mother, but now it was time
to get out and plan his own course. No worse time could have
been chosen for the ordeal. Our valley was in the grip of what
was called the "Cleveland hard times."

The crisis was ushered in by the death of the family cow.
She had broken into a neighbor's alfalfa field with the usual
result. "Jack," as we called him always, skinned the carcass
and took the hide to the storekeeper. Merchant Henderson
made it his practice to trade merchandise for hides, and was the
only hide buyer the valley afforded. But he told Jack he was
not buying hides any more. Being, as I have said, determined,
Jack argued the case. Finally Henderson, out-talked, led the
stubborn boy out to a big shed back of the store.

"See!" he waved his hand, "where could I put another
hide?"

DETERMINED TO WORK 913

"Well, but—"

"But nothing. I can't sell one. I can't give one away; and
they're spoiling on my hands. They're a dead loss. Now do
you see that I don't want any more?"

So Jack had to give in at last and miserably shuffle home
again with "Blossom's" unappreciated hide. But he was not
through yet. He had at home a wonderful book that called
itself One Thousand Practical Formulas. A book agent had
hypnotized his mother into taking it, but no one of the family
had ever read much in it. That evening Jack surprised the fam-
ily by getting this book down and reading with an amazing
diligence. At last he slapped his knee with a satisfied whack.

"I knew it was here: I got it!" was his cryptical exclama-
tion.

"Now what?" his mother asked.

"It's a pickle for hides. It can be used on green or dry hides,
and they'll keep indefinitely. I guess that must mean for years."

"Well, I'm sure we don't want to keep Blossom's hide for
years," his mother objected. "What we want is to sell it. We
need the storepay."

"Well, but ma," Jack protested, "I'm going to pickle all
Brother Henderson's hides for him so they won't spoil on his
hands. Then he'll buy our hide. Besides I'll have a job for
awhile, anyhow."

Henderson was doubtful when Jack explained the virtues
of the pickling preparation, but Jack was not to be turned
away. He went home and prepared some of the mixture and
tried it on Blossom's hide. Then he took the hide and showed
the skeptical storekeeper. Before he was through he had won
consent to treat the shedful of hides and pelts. That was his
first job, and it was much more profitable than pleasant, you
may be sure.

By the time he had finished pickling hides another job
presented itself. He was hired to help drive a bunch of steers
to the railroad, more than a hundred miles away. The steers
were driven all day, then must be herded all night. On this
trip Jack's willingness was taken advantage of most shamefully.
Not only did the lazy punchers give him the hardest of the
work in daylight, but he was given a double dose at night. The
night was divided into four watches. Jack's was the third. Jack
was the only one who did not have a watch. So he was to be
called up at two o'clock in the morning and stand guard until
the morning star came up. But guard number two figured out
a scheme to avoid loss of sleep. As soon as called up he would
simply turn his watch on to two o'clock and march over to Jack's
bed and get him up, showing him the fake time.

It was considered a good joke, and was told on him with

914 IMPROVEMENT ERA

great enjoyment on the way back from the railroad. But it
was no joke for Jack, for the overload coupled with exposure
to some extremely bad weather, left him in a condition where
he should have been under a doctor's care.

However, three days after he arrived home, another job
was offered. He told his mother he hadn't time to be sick. The
county was sending a force to work out ten thousand dollars
on a road through a canyon ninety miles from home and in a
very lonely and desolate country. In spite of his mother's ob-
jections, Jack went with the road crew. He said the trip would
make him well. He did get better on the way. But pick and
shovel work proved too hard for him in his condition. In a
week he was so stiff from rheumatism and so weak and full of
pain, that the other hands insisted on taking turns carrying him
from work to the ranch house a half-mile away where the road
crew boarded. There came a morning when he had to admit
himself whipped. He couldn't get into his overalls, but had to
go back to bed. He told me afterwards that this nearly broke
his heart. He had never been tied down to a bed before. He
had been at one time champion wrestler in our crowd as well
as one of its fastest sprinters. But his determination was still
on the job. His brain was as active as ever.

There were three families on the ranch, with thirteen chil-
dren in all. Jack had heard of the failure of rancher Kennedy
to find a teacher for their little school that year. He had been
offering fifty dollars a month and board, good pay in those days.
When Kennedy came in at the noon hour to offer sympathy
and help to the invalid, what was his consternation to have the
half dead Jack demand the job of teacher. With his usual de-
termination, too, he held to his demand until he won out. It
was a week before he was able to get out and stagger over to
the log granary which served as a schoolhouse. But the county
superintendent visited that school before the year was out, and
though Jack had never had special training for the work, the
superintendent recommended him for the school for the coming
year. The children, too, as well as their parents, begged him
to promise to come next year. But when he went home another
job took his attention.

There was an old dilapidated telegraph line to the home
settlement which a big telephone company had bought and
made into a telephone line. But it was going to pieces, and the
big company did not consider it worth the needed repairs. So
word was sent to the people of the town that the company would
no longer maintain the line. The company offered to sell the
whole line, eighty miles long, for a hundred dollars, in case the
citizens wanted to take it over and maintain it rather than be

DETERMINED TO WORK 915

cut off from the world. A meeting of the citizens was called,
but it accomplished nothing more than to roast that hard-
hearted telephone company. Nobody wanted the old line.

Jack happened to go to the meeting. He had been reading
about telephones. The subject interested him. He looked for
the use of them to spread far and wide in a few years. When
the citizens dispersed without arranging to buy that line, he
resolved to buy it. He had only twenty dollars towards it, and
no security. But he went out next morning determined to bor-
row the rest. It was a long day, but not long enough to borrow
eighty dollars. Many men listened until he came to the purpose
for which he wanted the money. But they thought he was
crazy.

However, Jack was at it again next morning. There was
a stubborn old Scotchman in the town with all the traits of thrift
and penny-counting for which the Scotch are famed. He had
the money, but had never been known to let go of any. But
Jack worked on his stubbornness and finally made the loan. He
made the old man think he was in for a fight with the whole
settlement if he loaned the money. This roused the old man's
fighting blood, as Jack had planned.

This was the beginning of Jack's real success. That old
line grew to cover two counties, with phones in nearly every
home. Today Jack has to his credit the creation of one of the
best farms in his valley from what was discarded as waste land
— two hundred acres of productive soil. Two big irrigation
systems were engineered and made successful through his lead-
ership. He has been a builder of roads and homes, and active
in all civic improvement. But the only achievement of which
he will boast is his fine family. He says he won his mate by
being determined. So again let us insist: it isn't enough to be
willing. It is necessary to be determined.
Cedar City, Utah

During Vacation Days

Scatter seeds of kindness while on your vacation, by not
only talking of your regard for animal life, but by giving some
practical demonstration of your interest. You may thereby in-
terest others in this cause of mercy and justice.

Whether you own a horse or not, it is your duty to remon-
strate with a driver who overdrives or abuses his horse in any
way. Help him by advice or kindly suggestion.

It is true economy to give a cow plenty of good, wholesome
food. Horses and cows will enjoy better health and do better
work if they are well groomed every day.

Picked For a Winner

By Frank R. Arnold

In the selection of Dr. F. S. Harris as president of the Brig-
ham Young University, the trustees have made the wisest choice
within their power. They know he will make good in the fu-
ture, just as he has done in the past, because this is the second
time he has been picked for a winner. He is one of the first
fruits of that admirable system, inaugurated by Dr. Widtsoe,
many years ago, to which the state of Utah owes so many of its
leading teachers and scholars. In order to supply the State Ag-
ricultural College with a strong, permanent faculty he used to
advise young men of parts to do graduate work at some eastern
university and at the same time he would promise them a col-
lege position when they had attained the necessary scholarship.
His ability to recognize merit was quick to see that these men
had the qualities that make for success, and he knew that since
they were Utah men their native state would reap the permanent
benefit of their advanced training. This is one reason why Utah
colleges are perhaps the most inbred in the land, but it is also
a reason why the turnover in their teaching force is so small.
It was to further this system that Dr. Harris was selected, one
might even say set apart, to become the leading agronomist of
the state and his later work has justified the wise choice, for
he has steadily shown himself of increasing usefulness to the
state as a writer, educator, and agronomist, during his long
service at the Agricultural College.

The position of college president is one of the most diffi-
cult to fill that is to be found in modern society. A college
president must be a high type of business man, a man of char-
acter and spiritual force, a man of broad and varied scholar-
ship, a man of ideas who can express them easily in public, a
writer, a man of the world with pronounced social gifts and a
man who is quick to recognize merit in others. It is because a
college president needs all these qualities and because so few
men possess them all, that so many presidential chairs are to-
day filled with second-rate men and that at the present moment
more than twenty American colleges are seeking leaders. Dr.
Harris possesses many of these qualities and he will acquire
others, for he is still young, and is an untiring, intelligent
worker. Perhaps his greatest quality, as an educator is his

DR. FRANKLIN STEWART HARRIS
The new President of the Brighton Young University, who succeeds
Dr. George H. Brimhall who was chosen President-Emeritus, and will
have charge of the seminary work of the Church Schools.

918 IMPROVEMENT ERA

broad interest in the entire field of scholarship. For him
Cornell was a true university, not alone a place in which to do
graduate work in agronomy, but also a place to come in contact
with all the departments of learning. For years he has taken
a keen interest in language work as well as in agronomy. He
has even been known to drop into a Latin class once or twice a
week just for the pleasure he took in the subject. He has prob-
ably the largest private library in the state of Utah. It con-
tains over 5,000 volumes and is especially rich in works on travel
and science. The distinguished visitor to Utah always gets a
warm welcome from Dr. Harris, because, like Emerson, he looks
on every meeting with a stranger as an event in his life. Dr.
Harris is a poor society man and a good cosmopolitan in the fact
that he would infinitely rather talk with his friends than dance
or play cards with them. Not that he condemns dancing or
any other legitimate social pleasure, but simply for him, as for
the French, conversation is the most interesting of all games
and there is more pleasure for him in sharpening his wits on
those of his friends, in getting their point of view, in sitting at
the feet of others and learning from them, than there is in the
rather brainless and facile pastimes of ordinary society. And
yet, in spite of these purely personal preferences, which a
never disagreeably obtruded, Dr. Harris has probably more
warm friends and interested acquaintances in all strata of Utah
society than any man in the state. Being human he is naturally
far from omniscient and yet there is no course offered at col-
lege which he could not conduct, for a few days if necessary,
with great pleasure to himself and profit to those taught.

It is this universality of scholarly interest, this freedom
from a narrow point of view, which has been the basis of Dr.
Harris' success as an intellectual human being and which will
be the very foundation stone of his success as a college presi-
dent. Even without the gift of prophecy it is easy to see how
he will go to work to make the Brigham Young University the
leading religious university west of the Mississippi. First will
come the urgent necessity of gathering around him the strong-
est faculty possible, and in this faculty he will require that the
librarian be just as well trained and educated as the professor
of English, the professor of history will be esteemed as highly as
the professor of chemistry, and no man will be professor of
music unless he knows something besides music. That same
universality of knowledge which is his own greatest strength
and glory will be the first requisite which he will demand of his
co-workers. His whole career will be to show that the interre-
lation of all knowledge is the greatest of all knowledge and that
the history of civilization is the most embracing, most satis-
factory, most helpful of all sciences. It may take many years

PICKED FOR A WINNER 919

of waiting, much putting-up with second and third rate teach-
ers, much training and stimulating of ambitious young men,
to gather this faculty together, but it is the goal that Dr. Harris
will finally arrive at, if he is given a free hand, for he more
than most knows that a true college is made up of teachers
rather than of buildings and athletic fields.

It is also devoutly to be hoped that Dr. Harris will cause
the same obsession for good teaching to pervade his normal
school and characterize the high school teachers as well as those
in the grades. Utah education in common with many other
western states has always been weakest in the high school. The
grades have done worthy foundation work and the colleges have
often fittingly capped the educational structure, but in be-
tween is a stratum of far from solid rock. This is due mainly
to the fact that too many teachers now-a-days are trained more
in method than in subject matter, that few high school teachers
have the broad grasp of their subject which comes from grad-
uate work, and above all the high school has grown mushy
and fiberless through a desire to establish a royal road to learn-
ing, based on athletics, manual training and courses from which
all hard thinking, concentration, and need of memorizing have
been removed. The training of the body and the acquiring of
even a spongelike mind are admirable qualities, it is true, but
they are not the only possible ones to be gained in a high school
course, and the most valuable gift that the Brigham Young Uni-
versity normal school could bestow on the state is a model high
school in which the teachers were masters of their subjects and
the object of which would be to form alert, well informed citi-
zens rather than bread winners. If all high schools are to be-
come technical schools, why not call them so and do away with
the hypocrisy of pretending that they stand for so-called higher
education!

It is this freedom from hypocrisy which should be the main
glory of every religious school. Church schools have no rea-
son for existence unless they stand first and foremost for char-
acter, and all college character is based on intellectual honesty
and the search for truth. In the ever changing, never ending
educational struggle toward truth, Dr. Harris in his new po-
sition will be more of a leader than ever. As president of the
B. Y. U. he will make the institution a worthy colleague of the
State Agricultural College and the State University. Thus
the state will be blest with the three most necessary types of
higher learning; the college of the people, the university with its
professional schools, and the small literary college which has
ever been distinguished by its fostering care of the individual
rather than of the masses, and thus has become the most de-
voted of alma maters.

920

IMPROVEMENT ERA

M. I. A. OFFICERS, LOCAL AND VISITING, AND THE GENERAL
BOARDS AT LIBERTY PARK

A most entertaining festival was conducted on Saturday afternoon in
which there were light refreshments, group games under direction of Char-
lotte Stewart and Professor Griffiths; a demonstration by Bee-Hive girls;
and dancing directed by Katherine Gabbott, of the Deseret Gymnasium.
Pictures show, (top), Dr. John H. Taylor, Scout Commissioner, with the
Boy Scout "Yellow Pup" Troop 35 truck; (center), dancing on the green;
(bottom), Scout Executive Oscar A. Kirkham, directing groups for some
"stunt" or other.

View of the Temple at Hawaii; the Tabernacle Choir and Organ;
Dr. Talmage

^Mormon" Temporalities

(From the Ford International Weekly, "The Dearborn Independent")
By Dr. James E. Talmage, of the Council of the Twelve

[In the Ford International Weekly, the Dearborn Independent, for June
11, published at Dearborn, Michigan, there is an article on "'Mormon'
Temporalities" by Dr. James E. Talmage, of the Council of the Twelve of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As an explanation of the
article, the following appears by the Editor of the Independent:

"The Dearborn Independent asked Dr. Talmage to prepare several
articles on the activities of the 'Mormon' Church. As stated elsewhere, Dr.
Talmage is a member of the Council of Twelve, but this fact must not
be accepted as indicative of a desire, either on the part of Dr. Talmage or

922 IMPROVEMENT ERA

this paper, to publish anything which may be regarded as of a propaganda
nature. Not alone is Dr. Talmage high in the councils of the Church, but
he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, of which there are only
seven members who are Americans. He is the only American holding life
membership. As one of the Twelve Apostles of the Church he attended the
Third World's Christian Citizenship Conference, in Pittsburgh, in Novem-
ber, 1919, at which time there was a discussion of 'Mormonism .' "

The article is reproduced in the Era because of its general interest,
both for our own people and for strangers. — Editors.]

Yes, of course, the "Mormon" Church is in business, and big
business at that. Not alone in Salt Lake City, which is the seat
of the presiding councils of the Church but in every city, town,
and village wherein a "Mormon" community dwells there is out-
ward and visible demonstration of church activity in material
affairs.

The present nation-wide depression in building operations
and in business generally is evident in the "valleys of the moun-
tains," though less markedly than elsewhere. Chapels, taber-
nacles, amusement halls, and one temple are in course of erec-
tion; and plans for further construction of the kind now under
examination in the office of the Church supervisor of buildings,
approximate six millions of dollars in estimated cost.

Brief mention of the general plan of Church operation may
be in place. Territorially the Church comprises missions and
stakes. Where the Latter-day Saints have gathered in sufficient
numbers, as in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, Colorado, New
Mexico, Nevada, Alberta (Canada) and Mexico, they are or-
ganized into Stakes of Zion; while the rest of the United States
and other countries are districted into distinct missions. A mis-
sion comprises conferences, and these are subdivided into
branches. Stakes are segregated into wards and branches, and
of these subdivisions nearly a thousand have already been or-
ganized.

The ward is the territorial and community unit within the
stake. At its head stands the bishopric, comprising a bishop
and two other high priests known as the bishop's counselors. In
lower order of authority are "quorums" of priests, teachers and
deacons; and, as helps in government, the several auxiliary or-
ganizations are indispensable factors. These latter comprise
the Relief Society, which is composed entirely of women;
the Sunday school; separate institutions known as the Young
Men's and the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associa-
tions; the Primary Association for children; and the Religion
Classes, which supplement the secular instruction of the public
schools by lessons in morals, theology and religion.

This fragment of the elaborate and efficacious plan of
church organization should be considered if "Mormon" activities
are to be rightly understood.

"MORMON" TEMPORALITIES 923

From the establishment of "Mormondom" in the West, dating
from the settlement of the pioneers in Salt Lake valley in 1847,
the ward has been the social center of the people. Its building
equipment has advanced from the single-room meetinghouse of
the early days — usually constructed of logs or adobe — to the
modern chapel of pressed brick or hewn stone, beautiful in
architecture, with auditorium, vestry and numerous classrooms;
and the adjoining amusement hall. Only religious services or
class exercises closely related thereto are conducted in the
chapel; all recreational activities of indoor character are pro-
vided for in the amusement hall. Attention is given to training
in music, social dancing, dramatics, debating, forum work and
pageantry; and in these as in Scouting for the young men, and
"Beehive" work for the girls, systematic courses are conducted.
The motion picture is a feature of ward recreation; and an
effective censorship of subjects is exercised, whereby the films
exhibited in the social centers are such as conform as nearly as
possible to the Church standard of morals.

It should be added that the Church engages in no recrea-
tional work for profit, its sole purpose being to provide whole-
some entertainment at cost; though "benefit" performances or
exhibitions are allowed, the proceeds from which are applied to
some local need, such as additional equipment, renovation of the
amusement hall, beautifying of the grounds, and the like.

For stake assemblies commodious tabernacles have been
erected; and for greater gatherings, as those of the general con-
ferences of the Church, the great Tabernacle in Salt Lake City is
used.

By architects and others the Salt Lake Tabernacle has been
pronounced one of the most remarkable auditoriums ever con-
structed. Its structural plan is simple, comprising essentially
a great dome supported by buttressed walls. It was in course
of erection from July, 1864, to October, 1867. The building is
250 feet long, and 150 feet in greatest width. From floor to
ceiling at the middle the distance is 70 feet; and the network
of beams and trusses between ceiling and roof is 10 feet high.
The immense dome-roof is of lattice construction and is self-
sustaining, there being not so much as a single supporting pillar.
More remarkable still, the roof is built entirely of wood and
was originally constructed without nails or metal spikes. The
enormous beams and trusses were held together by wooden pegs
and rawhide thongs. While the Tabernacle was in course of
building, iron nails and spikes were obtainable only as they
were brought across the plains by wagon and team, and the
high cost prevented their use. ^ '''"■£

Many modern buildings present larger roof-spans, but such
are generally constructed of metal. A capacious gallery, 30 teet

924 IMPROVEMENT ERA

wide, extends along the inner walls and is broken at the west
end only, where it gives place to the grand organ and the seats
reserved for the great choir. In contrast with the usual methods
of construction this enormous gallery is not continuous with the
walls. At intervals of from twelve to fifteen feet great beams
connect the gallery with the wall buttresses, but between these
beams the gallery is set forward two and one-half feet from the
inside of the walls, and the open spaces are guarded by a high
railing. It is believed that the surprising acoustic properties of
the building are due in part to this feature of construction. The
great dome is, in fact, a collossal whispering gallery, as the mul-
titudes of visitors who have inspected the building know. When
it is emptied save for the few, the fall of a pin dropped at the
focal point of the ellipse near one end of the building may be
heard at the corresponding point near the other end. The
convenient seating capacity of the tabernacle, including the
gallery, is nearly nine thousand, though, under conditions of
crowding, congregations much larger than this have assembled
beneath the dome.

No mention of "Mormon" buildings would be even half-
way complete without reference to the temples, which are
uniquely characteristic of this peculiar people. Of the four
temples now standing in Utah, that at Salt Lake City was the
first begun and the last completed. This splendid structure was
forty years in building. The walls are of solid granite eight feet
thick in the first story and six feet in the upper part. It is of
a style peculiar to itself, not inaptly called "Mormonesque."
Many stones of emblematical significance appear, representing
sun, moon, stars, the earth and the clouds. On the main in-
scription stone at the east we read: "Holiness to the Lord," and
on the keystones of the arched windows at both east and west
ends, "I am Alpha and Omega," and above these is the awe-
inspiring emblem of the All-seeing Eye.

The Latter-day Saints have recently completed a temple at
Laie, Hawaiian Islands, and another is nearing completion at
Cardston, Alberta, Canada. To the "Mormons" a temple is more
than chapel, tabernacle, synagogue or cathedral. Temples are
erected and maintained for the solemnization of sacred ordin-
ances, and not as places for general assembly or for ordinary
congregational worship.

Another "Mormon" structure of imposing proportions and
striking architectural design bears over its main entrance the
unpretentious inscription "L. D. S. Church Offices." Though
but above five years old, it is known far and wide. It is essen-
tially a steel structure faced with thick granite, but with founda-
tion benches and supporting columns of solid stone. Within,

"MORMON" TEMPORALITIES 925

the ground story and the next above are finished for the main
part in highly polished aragonite, which is known in the trade
as Utah onyx. This building constitutes the administrative head-
quarters of the Church. It contains the offices and council rooms
of the first presidency, the Council of the Twelve Apostles, the
First Council of the Seventy, and other presiding authorities.
One entire floor is devoted to the work of the Church historian;
and the greater part of another is given up to genealoigcal re-
search, which, owing to the practice of vicarious ordinance work
for the dead, ranks among the very prominent features of "Mor-
mon" achievement. The administration of such ordinances in
behalf of the departed is carried on in the temples only; and
the compilation of accurate genealogical records is a prere-
quisite thereto.

The Church has spent and is spending large sums for the
erection and maintenance of hospitals. The L. D. S. Groves
Hospital in Salt Lake City is one of the best equipped institu-
tions of the kind in the West; and the Dee Hospital in Ogden,
though smaller, is likewise thoroughly up-to-date. The Church
has under construction another large and strictly modern hos-
pital at Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Building, however, is but one of the many material activities
with which the Church is occupied. The beginning of irrigation
by white men in the West dates from the day on which the
pioneer band, under the direction of its intrepid leader, Brig-
ham Young, entered the valley of the Great Salt Lake; and this
enterprise — which is veritably the magic touch to whose re-
sponse the desert has yielded its treasures for the sustenance of
man — has been especially fostered by the Church from the be-
ginning. In the early days the construction of irrigation canals
was largely a Church undertaking. More recently great irriga-
tion projects have been successfully carried through by private
capital; and the National Reclamation Service has co-operated
in the construction of dams, canals, and reservoirs on a scale
which by comparison is collossal.

It is but a statement of simple truth to say that the Church
has been ever active in the support of home industry and in
lending financial aid to any legitimate undertaking intended
for the development and welfare of its people, and for the good
of the state without regard to the religious affiliation of its citi-
zens. It has always led in the introduction and establishment
of enterprises that promised to be beneficial and helpful to the
community. The Church rendered substantial service in early
railroad construction, by which the isolated oasis was brought
into close communication with both East and West; it con-
tributed to the establishment of the telegraph and the tele-

926 IMPROVEMENT ERA

phone; it was among the first movers in developing water power
for electrical energy ; it was instrumental in the establishment of
the beet-sugar industry in the intermountain realm; it has de-
voted large sums of money to colonization and to the necessary
irrigation enterprises connected therewith. It has rendered sub-
stantial financial assistance in the establishment of woolen mills,
salt plants, stone quarries, brickyards, cement factories, coal
fields, sulphur fields, iron and steel plants, elevators, flour mills,
and a number of other smaller industries.

In these and other related activities the Church has spent
millions of dollars, not for profit to itself nor for the monopo-
lization of industry, but primarily to furnish employment and
insure prosperity to the community. Nevertheless, some of these
enterprises have brought good returns to the Church as an or-
ganization, while in others losses have been incurred; but it
reckons its profit in terms of community prosperity and in the
individual welfare of its members.

It is interesting to note that of the families of the Church
living in the organized stakes, over 75 per cent own their homes.
There is little employment for the rent-collector except in the
larger centers of population, and even there, most of the Church
members who pay rent are those who live in furnished suites by
choice.

A good "Mormon" regards efficiency in what we are apt to
call worldly affairs as a requirement of his religion. He de-
votes a fair and equitable part of his time to the contemplation
of what lies beyond the grave, and conscientiously gives due at-
tention to the practical activities of mortality. It is his bounden
duty to contribute his full share of labor and time to every-
day work, whether his vocation be that of the farmer directly
delving into the soil, of the artisan, the clerk, the banker or
the professional man. Temporal salvation, which is attainable
through honesty, thrift, and hard work, plays an important part
in individual preparation of the spiritual salvation of the here-
after.

So the Church collectively and its members severally are
in business, with such determination and thoroughness as shall
insure success in all righteous dealingsjbr betterment and pros-
perity here, and for the training and Experiences that such la-
bor shall afford in preparation for the life to come.

Deseret, the beehive, is the "Mormon" emblem of industry.

© Underwood & Underwood, N. Y.

A GRAND VIEW'
Mrs. Mary J. Burton, of Los Angeles, is pointing, for the benefit of
Miss Barbara Babcock, of Salt Lake City, to the wonderful vision of south-
ern Utah's "Dixie country," as they stand on a high plateau. They are mem-
bers of a party opening the new scenic road from Zion National Park, Utah,
to the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

The Treasure Seeker

By Ezra J. Poulsen

If Max Bowman had possessed, among his many estimable
qualities, a disposition more favorable toward compromise, it
would have been quite unnecessary to tell this story. But some-
how in the concoction of his original talents an unusual strain
of perverse self-esteem was permitted to creep in unawares.
Even this was ordinarily made to function harmlessly, but in
soine relationships — one in particular — it was a cause of injus-
tice.

During his entire life Max had been taught to foster the
ideal that a young man should choose his life's work early, then
apply the very limit of his strength to it until his name was se-
curely written on the honor roll of achievement. So at twenty-
three he was fairly plunging into his work at the office of Bob
Mayo, the small city's leading architect; and during his limited
number of spare moments, except when he was thinking of Mil-
dred Lawrence, he habitually reeled bright pictures of his pro-
fessional future before his mind.

No one was more interested in his prospective success than
his patient, devoted mother. It had been a rule with her from
the beginning to encourage her boy in his ambitions. But ther~
were days — those days of toil and worry — when she justly felt
that he could be less selfish and demanding about home. It was
here that his one noticeable defective quality had reached al-
most unbearable proportions. She often chided herself for
her attitude. "All boys are thoughtless," she reasoned; but there
was no use; the feeling would return, and sometimes it was
manifested by a slight quiver of the sensitive chin, or by the
appearance of a tear drop which nobody ever saw.

Naturally the young man in question was not troubled by
his shortcomings. He loved his mother, and took her for granted.
To him she was the synonym of all physical comforts. Even the
morning when he reprimanded her for not having his newest
negligee shirt washed and ironed, he did not mean to be unrea-
sonable. "I declare, mother," he cried peevishly; "you might
have known I'd need it." The fragrance of fruit ripening in
autumn sunshine, accompanied by the twitter of a blue bird,
floated through the open door, and whispered a message of love
and beauty, but he was not in the mood to respond.

THE TREASURE SEEKER 929

"Yes, son, I might have known it; I did know it, in fact.
But there is such a thing as not being able to do everything, and
I knew you could manage for another day." Mrs. Bowman spoke
with a quiet dignity that was overwhelming, and Max felt de-
cidedly uncomfortable, even after she had left the room.
Nevertheless his feelings remained ruffled; and without being
impressed by the pain in her voice, he stalked out into the
balmy morning, and hastened off to the office.

It was an unexpected stroke of good luck — Max believed in
luck — that caused Mildred Lawrence to come along just in time
to meet him at Pearson's corner. Instantly the lines of ill humor
melted from his face, which brightened perceptibly, while his
heart beat a glad melody in her honor.

"Good morning, merry sunshine," he greeted gaily, as his
practiced observation registered her lovely pink-frocked figure,
crowned by a mass of golden hair and guided by a pair of witch-
ing blue eyes.

"Good morning," she responded sweetly, fluttering up to
him with all the freshness and fragrance of a dew-laden flower.
Unqualified admiration was written on every line of his hand-
some young face, as they walked together; and he at once be-
came studiously amiable. Heart and soul he was her lover, and
being in her presence was his greatest joy.

"I'm glad you happened along," he explained. "I was go-
ing to call you up when I got a chance, but I was afraid that
wouldn't be half soon enough."

"Oh, was I to be so favored?" she answered tantalizingly.

He laughed boyishly. "You were to be the victim. I wanted
you to go with me to the pavilion tonight. Will you?"

"Will I?" she mocked. "Let's see." Her silken lashes
turned downward, and a wrinkle gathered on her forehead, in-
dicating a momentary reflection. "I believe I will go with you."
Her ruby lips displayed a delicious smile.

All day over the drafting board Max found pleasure con-
templating the big treasures the future was dangling before him.
He was coolly confident that some day Mildred would be his,
though she had never said so; and that success as an architect,
with a large salary was but a matter of a short time. It all
seemed so easy and so certain that he found himself wondering
at other young men's lack of enthusiasm.

Occasionally a thought of his mother flitted into his con-
sciousness, and he experienced a slight pang of remorse at the
remembrance of his thoughtless words to her. She had been
unusually weary, perhaps not well. He was sure of that now,
and formed a hasty resolution to apologize. Then his attention
reverted back to his more pleasant speculations.

930 IMPROVEMENT ERA

That night upon returning from work it was as he had
feared; his mother was decidedly not well. At once he ex-
pressed his regrets, and made several awkward efforts to be of
use to her, but decided not to mention his remisses of the
morning.

"Mother, sit down and let me put this sofa pillow at your
back.- He picked up the large brocaded pillow in question and
started toward her little wicker rocking chair.

"No, don't bother, son; I can't sit down now," she remon-
strated weakly. "But take the children outside so it will be
more quiet."

"But, mother, it would—"

"No, son, it wouldn't do now." Mrs. Bowman spoke quietly
but firmly.

Max felt nettled that his good intentions were not more ac-
ceptable. Nevertheless he reluctantly went out with the chil-
dren. "It's the way with mother," he soliloquized." She won't
let a fellow do what's good for her." The line of reasoning that
followed brought him rapidly to the satisfying conclusion that
he was a rather model son. His selfish attitude amounted to
an obstinate refusal to fairly recognize the conditions that made
up her daily life. Presently his thoughts turned back to his
personal aims; and as he traced the afterglow of the sunset on
the western skyline, he firmly resolved to let nothing swerve
him for a moment from the path that led to the realization of
his desires.

Youth and beauty were much in evidence at the pavilion
when Max and Mildred arrived there. They in turn lost no
time in identifying themselves with the happy revelry. The
glare of the white lights, the buzz of many voices, and the sound
of many feet, together with the witchery of a beautiful "Old
Ohio," waltz and the mild scent of Mildred's presence was a
combination that appealed mightily to Max Bowman's love for
life. He was charmed by the rythm and music of it all. His
stern philosophy of much work and little play, only intensified
the pleasure of his relaxation.

"This is like an hour in Paradise," he murmured in Mil-
dred's ear, as they moved with the circle of dancers.

She tossed her head prettily, and laughed with apprecia-
tion. "Why!" she exclaimed; "Don't you know, Max, you're
getting to be horribly poetic."

"Am I?" he questioned eagerly; "By Jove, you'd make any-
one poetic."

"Oh, well, it's better than too much fame and fortune stuff,"
she said heartily. "It's good to live sometimes in the jolly pres-
ent." She turned to greet a friend that glided by.

As the music stopped the buzz of voices arose, and the shuf-

THE TREASURE SEEKER 931

fling tread of feet became absorbed in the chatter. In a few
moments the crowd was broken into a miscellaneous arrange-
ment of small sociological knots — just the kind so adaptable to
spirited conversation.

"Say, Max, old boy, chances look mighty favorable for a
jolly good time. What d'you say?" The speaker was Will Har-
mon— fat, good-natured Will, another of Mayo's employees —
whose love for pleasure quite completely overbalanced his in-
terest in work.

"Bill, you're right for once," agreed Max, leading Mil-
dred into the circle of which Will was a part.

"Listen," cried Will in feigned astonishment. "He talks as
if I wasn't always right."

"How ridiculous," exclaimed Maggie Anderson ironically,
"for any one to think that Billie could make a mistake."

"Oh, I'm gettin' it in the neck," purred the affable Bill,
putting his hand over his mouth, "Guess I'll keep still."

The group laughed at his expense and the chatter went on.

"Do you folks know what Bill did today at work," asked
Max with a masterful air.

None of them did, but they were eager to find out.

"Well, he climbed up on his drafting stool and started to
sing, 'When You and I were Young, Maggie.' "

"Oh, the idea!" Maggie Anderson colored, and looked re-
sentful at Will who grinned back gleefully." By golly, I had to
do something to relieve the high tension of Max's castles in
Spain," he retorted.

Max's enjoyment was interrupted by a firm hand on his
arm, and a voice near his ear whispering seriously, "Your
mother's ill, and I think you'd better go home to see her. He
turned quickly to meet the level gaze of John Watson, his neigh-
bor. Momentarily he was struck by a sense of dull incompre-
hensibility. He cast a half pained, half annoyed glance around
his circle of friends, and his eyes rested on Mildred. "Excuse
me; I'll be back in a little while," he apologized, then followed
the man from the room.

Out in the silent monontony of the night he learned from
John Watson that his mother's illness was far more serious than
he had supposed, and this understanding started his anxiety
at the task of tearing away the bulwark of his unimaginative
habit of taking her existence for granted. Wildly he began to
wonder what he would do without her. And it dawned on him
with crushing force that the thread of life is a slender one, so
slender that it was quite possible for her to leave him. A veri-
table moving picture was passing through his aroused mind,
revealing the many things he might have done to make her life

932 IMPROVEMENT ERA

happy. His alarm continued to increase, and long before the
picket gate was reached, he was hastening so fast that his neigh-
bor kept pace only with difficulty.

"Mother," he whispered hoarsely, as he bent over the bed.
There was no answer; she lay perfectly quiet. Never in all his
life had he seen her look so white and wan, and he turned a
troubled face to the doctor, who was preparing to leave, then to
the kind neighbor woman, who was acting in the capacity of
nurse.

"Is — is — there any doubt about her recovery?" he asked
hoarsely.

"Mighty sick woman, my boy, but with good care she stands
a chance to recover," said the man of science tersely, in depart-
ing-

Overwhelmed by a feeling of agonizing helplessness, Max
walked the floor. Strange and painful emotions were stirring
within him. It was as if certain sealed chambers of his heart
had been unlocked, revealing for the first time phases of his
nature he had not known. As he struggled with the uncer-
tainty of his mother's condition, the growing consciousness of
his own shortcomings smote him relentlessly, and added to his
grief, as the slow hours dragged away.

The door opened softly; there was a delicate rustle of silk,
mixed with the tender fragrance of her favorite perfume, Lily
of -the-valley ; and Mildred Lawrence tip-toed into the room.
Max started. He had almost forgotten her, and the impromptu
manner of his leaving her at the dance hall.

"I came to see how your mother is," she said quietly. "You
ought to have let me come with you; I could have helped."
There was a note of reproach in her voice which he was sensi-
tive to feel.

I didn't think she was so bad," he blundered sorely.

Among Mildred Lawrence's many charms she possessed a
sane understanding of the eternal fitness of things. She was
calmly able to meet an emergency. It happened, therefore, that
she quietly laid aside her light wraps, and prepared to add her
services to the night's vigil. She easily ignored Max's weak re-
monstrance, and seemed quite indifferent to his confused apol-
ogy. Her manner, without being offensive, made the young
man intuitively understand that she disapproved of him, and
this increased his misery.

"Now, Mrs. Weeks, I'm going to stay right here and help
you," she announced sweetly to the lady in attendance.

Max was a compound of amazement and sorrow. He
glanced furtively into the girl's face and found all the usual
beauty and freshness that he loved so well, and the conviction

THE TREASURE SEEKER 933

that he must appear little and mean in her estimation added
misery to his belated solicitude concerning his mother. Sit-
ting by the bedside he took the sufferer's hard hand in his own,
and tried to think. Presently he felt the fingers move convul-
sively, and the patient showed evidence of conscious pain.

"She's goin' to have another spell," Mrs. Weeks whispered
intensively, as she moved to the bed and gazed over Max's
shoulder. There was no mistaking the signs of returning pain
to the half conscious sufferer. The youth felt the tremor of her
body as she began to toss and moan. Desperately he tried to
speak to her, but his voice choked and lapsed into silence.

"We'll have to give her the applications and the medicine
the doctor left." Mrs. Weeks made this explanation to Mildred.
Both women with feminine skill were at once busy caring for
the sick woman, while the son, heavy-hearted and disconsolate,
tried to help, but failed so completely that Mildred pushed him
into a chair with the injunction that he keep out of the way.

After hours of suffering during which time the two nurses
worked constantly to relieve her pain, Mrs. Bowman showed
signs of decided improvement. At first she spoke a few words,
to Max's complete joy, then fell into a much needed slumber.

When Mildred was ready to leave Max accompanied her.
Together they walked out into the awakening dawn. The air
was fresh and pungent, laden with the joy and fragrance of the
coming day. There was little said as they followed the series
of sidewalks that led the way to the Lawrence home. Try as
he would Max could not command his usual powers of conversa-
tion. The placid little moon hovered in the west, looking wear-
ily back across the valley before going to her bed of rest be-
hind the hills, reminding them incidentally that she, too, had
kept an all night watch.

"Mildred, you are as beautiful as Diana herself, he whis-
pered with agitation, as they stopped at the gate. She glanced
languidly at the moon, and tucked up a few stray tresses that
had become dislodged from their golden moorings, then turned
to him with a tired, troubled expression in her blue eyes.^

"Max don't be so extravagant with your compliments, she
reproved. "I-I-oh, I can't talk to you. Good night. ' Her
voice trembled with agitation, and she turned and fled into the
house. He watched her as one stricken until the patter other
feet on the walk died away, and the door slammed behind her.

The days of Mrs. Bowman's convalescence were all too slow
for Max. Still his joy was unbounded at seeing his pother bat-
tie her way successfully back to health, and he spared no effort

934 IMPROVEMENT ERA

to add to her comfort and show his devotion. He shed tears of
joy when she forgave him all his past delinquencies; and with a
full realization that in his eager young ambition he had abused
the finest relationship of life, and in doing so had come nearly
making himself forever a selfish egotist, he set about to make
amends.

But thoughts of Mildred were with him always; he felt the
sting of her unspoken censure; it hurt him all the more because
he knew he deserved it; and he refrained from going to her,
preferring to suffer alone. At last, however, he went; and it
was at his mother's gentle bidding. Never had he felt so hum-
ble.

He found her as usual pleased to see him, and she was
more beautiful in his eyes than ever, though he fancied he saw
a resigned sadness in her countenance that bespoke the impos-
sibility of continuing the old relationship. This gave him a
chill of helplessness.

"Mildred — tell me what's the matter. Max blurted out this
appeal after a disconcerting silence.

The girl calmly slipped into the divan beside him. "Max,
I know you'll think I'm silly, but I can't help it; it's the way
I feel," she said simply.

"Mildred, I don't think you're silly," he declared vehe-
mently; "I'm a fool, a downright worthless fool — and you know
it, but hate to tell me." He paused as one relieved of a great bur-
den.

The girl looked surprised, then a new light of understand-
ing came into her smiling face. She knew he had changed,
that he had discarded the one quality that had made her resolve
not to marry him, in spite of her love.

"Yes, I'm a fool," he repeated humbly. "I'm worse than
that; I'm a cad. I've never known how to treat my own mother."
His voice trembled with emotion." But, Mildred, I love you,
will you let me prove to yovi that I have changed? Will you
marry me?"

"Yes, dear, I'll marry you," she promised, with a nervous
little laugh. If you're always good to your mother you will be
without fault in my eyes because in the long run a man treats
his wife no better than he treats his mother.

Passionately he took her in his arms. "God knows that
I've learned my lesson," he whispered. "I have no ambition that
compares with my desire to be worthy of the two best women
who live.

Nephi, Utah

The Story that's J True

This poem refers particularly to the 19th Ward, Salt Lake stake, in which
stake there are at present 12 wards

Come and travel with me to the peaks

And we'll view all this valley around;

Of these beautiful hills on the east,

Let us go on a sight-seeing feast.

On the north lie the green, fertile farms,

To the south are homes of the blest;

From the east flow the clear, sparkling streams,

While Lake Bonneville sleeps in the west.

Have you noticed this wonderful place?
No two stones on these hills are the same;
Feel the strength in the sunflow'rs that bloom,
And the power of sunshine and rain.
See the gravel, the rocks, and the sand,
See the lime and water so warm;
O the skill in the hands of that One
Who from chaos all beauty did form.

O the joy and the wonder of earth,
And the freedom that Nature can give,
If we'll only reach out and partake!
O what rapture to really live!
When we climb to the summit, we'll stand
'Neath the marvelous canopy blue,
And we'll sit on the rocks while we rest,
Then, I'll tell you a story that's true.

It was summer and not long ago,
Just in years about three score and ten;
O'er these hills came an army, unarmed,
It was women, and children, and men.
Though unarmed with equipments of war,
And not marching to battlefields' strife,
In the cause of eternal advance
They were soldiers enlisted for life.

From fair homes in the East they had come
To this valley of sagebrush and sand;
A choice people brought out from the world,
And led hither by God's gracious hand.
By these hills a small company paused
To give thanks, and to rest from all strife:
Then, as mariners sail on the sea,
They embarked on the ocean of life.

Like Columbus they sailed ever west,
And his motto they kept well in mind:
"We'll sail on, and sail on, and sail on!"
And they sailed on to better mankind.

936 IMPROVEMENT ERA

They increased and they prospered and grew,
They waxed stronger in faith and in love;
Always guided by men who received
Inspiration from heaven above.

Each one thought of his neighbor and friend,
Always trying a good turn to do;
Thoughts of self were the last and the least;
They were leaders most noble and true.
Little settlements dotted the path
Of the army that fought without guns.
Till, like Jacob of old, it was blessed
With a fam'ly of twelve noble sons.

O the mission these soldiers did fill!
And the service they rendered to man!
As they toiled by the sweat of their brow,
They but furthered our God's gracious plan.
They converted this dry, barren waste
To an Eden where pure honey flows;
E'en the course of the waters they turned,
Made the desert to bloom as a rose.

Still they sailed until far out at sea,
Braved the tempest and billows of life;
At mid-ocean they heard "S. O. S!"
And the beat of the drum, and the fife.
'Twas a wireless call of distress,
And it came o'er the waves as with wings:
"Dogs of war are unleashed on the earth,
By command, and the order of kings!"

In the distance they saw fire and blood,
Heard the cry of their fathers, their sons,
Saw the sorrow, the suffring and death,
Heard the roar of the thundering guns.
Giving heed to the call of their flag,
They reached out with a kind, helping hand;
They enlisted, and fought, and some died
On the soil of a far away land.

When the dark clouds of war fell away
There was peace for a time, but not long,
For a scourge as it swept o'er the earth
Seemed a vengeance for sin and for wrong.
Stricken down by the grim reaper, Death,
Many sleep in the tear-watered sod,
But in Zion this brave little band
Is undaunted, and faith keeps with God.

Through the famine and sickness and strife
They are seeking the harbor to make;
The good sire is the old Nineteenth Ward
And his sons are our own Salt Lake Stake.
Let us sail! let us sail! o'er Life's sea
With the very same Captain and crew
Till we anchor in Heaven's great port,
Still remem'bring the story that's true.

Mary R. E. Ostler

Important Church Notice

To Stake Presidents Concerned:

Quarterly conferences to be held in the following named
stakes upon the date hereinafter indicated, will be devoted pri-
marily to the interests of the auxiliary associations. A program
for these conferences has been prepared and will be forwarded
to the presidents and other officers in the stakes concerned:

August 6 and 7 — Alberta, Boise, Curlew, Raft River, South
Sanpete, Summit, Wayne.

August 13 and 14 — Emery, Juab, Millard, Oneida, Taylor.

August 20 and 21 — Bannock, Blackfoot, Blaine, Big Horn,
Malad, Shelley, South Sevier, Teton.

August 27 and 28 — Bear Lake — Bingham, Burley, Garfield,
Pocatello, Portneuf, Young.

September 3 and 4 — Bear River, Idaho, Moapa, Panguitch,
Rigby, San Luis, Twin Falls, Uintah.

September 10 and 11 — Kanab, Lost River, Morgan, San
Juan.

September 17 and 18 — Franklin, Montpelier, North Sanpete,
Roosevelt, Star Valley, St. George, Union.

September 24 and 25 — Carbon, Deseret, Duchesne, Fremont,
Parowan, Sevier.

Subsequent to October General Conferences (Dates not
named) — Beaver, North Sevier, Tintic, Benson, Hyrum, St.
Johns, Tooele, Cassia, Maricopa, Wasatch, Woodruff, Yellow-
stone, Snowflake, St. Joseph.

Heber J. Grant,
Charles W. Penrose,
Anthony W. Ivins,

First Presidency.

Masonry and "Mormonism'

An inquiry was recently received by Elder B. H. Roberts
relative to the Prophet Joseph Smith's connection with masonry,
and its connection with temple ceremonies, and to the endow-
ment rites having been copied from masonry, etc. The in-

938 IMPROVEMENT ERA

quirer desired to know concerning these subjects, and in reply
thereto, Elder Roberts submitted the following explanation,
which, we think, will adequately answer the frequent questions
that come to the Improvement Era regarding them:

Relative to the Prophet's connection with masonry and its
connection with temple ceremonies, and the endowment rites
having been copied from masonry, etc., which are the subjects
of your inquiry, I would respectfully submit the following:

While there is no doubt of the Prophet's connection with
masonry, at Nauvoo, — and that at about the same time of his
first connection with masonry he also introduced the endow-
ment ceremonies; namely, on the 4th of May, 1842, — the evi-
dence, to my mind, is very clear that his knowledge of the en-
dowment ceremonies preceded his contact with masonry.

I believe the beginnings of God's revelation to him of en-
dowment ceremonies began with his getting possession of the
Book of Abraham, in the form of Egyptian papyrus manuscript,
facsimiles of which are to be found in the History of the
Church, Vol. IV, pages 520-523, the work edited by myself. The
Prophet first learned of this Book of Abraham, on July 3, 1835,
(See History of the Church, Vol. II, page 235) and the record
was purchased shortly afterwards by the Saints at Kirtland. (For
the Prophet's account of this record see Church History, Vol.
II, pages 348-351.) A careful examination of facsimile No. 2,
from the Book of Abraham, and the Prophet's half cryptic trans-
lation, which accompanies it, clearly shows that the signs and
figures thereon refer to matters concerning grand key words of
the Priesthood, with the assertion that some of the writing
cannot be revealed unto the world, "but is to be had in the
Holy Temple of God." Some nine of the figures in the fac-
simile are referred to, with the promise that they will be given
in the due time of the Lord, all of which doubtless refers to the
sacred mysteries of our Temple ordinances, and all this from
five to seven years before the Prophet's contact with masonry.

In this connection, also, I call your attention to Doc. and
Cov. Sec. 110, which contains the account of the visions of the
Prophet in the Kirtland Temple, among which is the account of
the appearance of Elias, who committed the dispensation of the
gospel of Abraham unto the Prophet, saying, to Oliver and Jo-
seph, that in them and in their seed all generations after them
would be blessed. Undoubtedly this Elias stood at the head of
the dispensation of the gospel on the earth in the days of Abra-
ham and hence was the one chosen to restore the keys of that
dispensation to Joseph Smith, and since the reference I have
given you to the Book of Abraham has such direct allusion to

EDITORS' TABLE 939

our temple mysteries it must be that Abraham obtained a knowl-
edge of these things from Elias and also that the keys that he
brought to Joseph Smith undoubtedly had reference to the same
subject; and, as the visit of Elias occurred about one year after
Joseph obtained the Book of Abraham, it was likely through
the keys of knowledge restored by Elias that he was able to
understand the subject matter of the Book of Abraham; and all
this long before his contact and participation in masonry. (For
the Prophet's account of the introduction of the endowment, on
the 4th day of May, 1842, see History of the Church, Vol. V,
pages 1-3.)

It is rather significant that about two months before intro-
ducing the endowments, namely, March 1, 1842, the Prophet be-
gan the publication of the Book of Abraham in the Times and
Seasons, and as that was the beginning of the publication of the
book, he must have been at work on the translation of it some
months before.

A careful study of these facts will, I think, establish beyond
controversy that the Prophet was not at all dependent upon any-
thing he learned in masonry for our endowment ceremonies, any
more than what he learned from the defective creeds of Christen-
dom made him indebted to those creeds for what he brought
forth in the dispensation of the gospel that he, under God, gave
to the world. The Saints may rest assured that what we have
through the Prophet, in relation to the Priesthood and its sac-
red mysteries, resulted from the revelations of God to Joseph
Smith, and not from the Prophet's incidental and brief con-
nection with masonry.

'Mormon Settlement in Arizona'

When the pioneers set out to do their work, their daily la-
bors became very common-place to them, and they thought lit-
tle of the importance of their struggles to those who should fol-
low to reap the harvest of their enterprise. Hence, in the great
west, in every state and settlement lie buried historic treasures.
It is the task of the historian to liberate these and bring them to
light. The lives of the Latter-day Saints particularly are prolific
in pioneer interest — not only the settlers of Utah, of whom we
have been accustomed to hear the most, but also the leaders in
the colonization of surrounding states for which the Latter-day
Saints have become famous. The "Mormon" colonizers of the
great southwest, particularly Arizona, have just received a de-
served-tribute in a new volume of some 300 fascinating pages,
entitled Mormon Settlement in Arizona, by the historian of that

940 IMPROVEMENT ERA

state, James H. McClintock. In this writing he has risen to com-
mendable heights in laying bare the wonderful achievements of
the "Wilderness Breakers of Deseret." In his well-written, clear,
unbiased and richly illustrated work there is a fascinating ex-
position of the struggles, often pathetic, always heroic, made
by the Latter-day Saints in redeeming the deserts of southern
Utah, Nevada, and especially Arizona. We of older years well
remember the partings with our young men who were called
to the Arizona mission in the early 70' s — how they were fitted
out, how we bade them God's blessings, how the fathers and
mothers, themselves barely settled from ultra pioneer hard-
ships, looked seriously upon the crude outfits, manned by exr
uberant youth — hopeful men and women — who set out un-
daunted to subdue the burning mesas and, with kindness and
the gospel message, to conquer the wild men of the desert. Many
of them lie buried on the Colorado plateau, and some by the
drifting and treacherous sands of the silent river. Others found
their death in Indian warfare, while in their hearts they filled
the religious requirement of their leaders to deal kindly with
the red man. Again, others are still struggling with obdurate
surroundings, having spent their lives and fortunes in the con-
stant conflict. A few of the leaders have received some meed
of honor and remembrance in this splendid work. Hundreds,
perhaps thousands, with all their sacrifices, will be remembered
only as communities, who in early days fought the fight of the
desert, and, with brave hearts in personal struggles and disap-
pointments, built houses, founded cities and settlements, planted
fields, orchards, and fruitful gardens, made the barren ground
to rejoice, kissed by the waters of irrigation. They erected schools
and houses of worship. By their faith, industry, patience and
thrift, they developed enormously the agricultural possibilities
of the state and country. The detail of some of the work is
set forth in the book, every page of which creates interest and
admiration. It should have the effect of awakening a desire
in the hearts of the young Latter-day Saints to prove themselves
of equal worth in their work, and to arouse in them a determina-
tion to meet every condition with equal fortitude. Some of us
think our lots are hard ; let us contemplate some of the troubles
of these faithful, brave conquerors of the desert, and we will
be more content, and less given to complaint and 'restlessness.
In the preparation of Mormon Settlement in Arizona, Elder
Andrew Jenson, Church Historian, in Salt Lake City, and LeRoi
C. Snow of the General Board Y. M. M. I. A., Secretary to the
Arizona State Historian, are given credit by the author for
faithful devotion in the labor of gathering data. The book is
adopted as one of the M. I. A. reading course for 1921-22, and
is worthy of extensive reading by all interested in the develop-

EDITORS' TABLE 941

ment of the great south-west, and in the pioneer part taken
therein by the Latter-day Saints. — A.

Books

Rhymes and Runes by Joseph Scarisbrick, is an original selection of
tales and talks, in verse and prose, by the author. It is a book of 160 pages
divided into three sections, the first, treating of and for childhood and
youth; the second, things humorous; and the third, matters serious. In the
book, some of the economic factors affecting the industrial position of
Great Britain are referred to by the author as he remarks being old enough
to remember the latter years of the Victorian period "when," as he expresses
it, "our character was high and prosperity considerable." His inference in
all cases where such reference is made is, that that period was rich in much
that the British empire has now lost and which it will have to regain if it
is to prosper once more. We think these references are much superior
in value to the humorous division, which for Americans, is rather slow.

Messages from the Missions

Gridley Semi-Annual Conference

The fourth semi-annual conference of the Gridley conference, con-
vened May 6 to 8 with nine meetings, including a priesthood meeting, two
Relief Society meetings and six general sessions. A social was held on
Monday evening, May 9, at Liberty Hall. The total attendance of the con-
ference was 2,500. President Jos. W. McMurrin, Mission Secretary William
G. Brown, Louise Jones, outgoing president of the mission Relief Societies,
Margaret K. Miller, incoming president, and President W. W. Richards and
many of the missionaries from the San Francisco conference were in at-
tendance. A number of the laboring elders were speakers. The meetings
were well attended and the greatest hospitality was extended to all visitors.
A feature of the conference was the Mother's Day program held on Sunday
morning, May 8. The elders presented each of the mothers with a white
carnation, and the talks and music were all devoted to motherhood. A spirit
of harmony prevailed throughout the conference and the instructions were
timely and elevating. — Elder Ove C. Inkley.

Two Organized Branches in Arkansas

, i
Elder Almon D. Owens, writing from the Arkansas conference re-
ports :

"There are two organized branches of the Church in this conference,
where Sunday school and services are held each Sunday, and during the
week cottage meetings and classes of study are held. The Barney branch
is presided over by President Antie L. Long. They have their own church
in which to hold their services. The Little Rock branch is presided over
by President W.irren F. Wilhite. They hold meetings in the Moose Hall.
The members, though few in numbers, have a church fund started. The
spirit of prejudice is being overcome, and we feel that much good is being
accomplished among the people of this state. The elders of the Arkansas
Conference appreciate very much the Era and its instructive articles and
doctrinal explanations, also its interesting stories." — Almon D. Otvens.

942

IMPROVEMENT ERA

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Elders top row: Willard E. Page, Leland E. Wood, Calvin Keller, Rich-
ard R. Lyman, of the Council of the Twelve, Duane H. Ence, John W. Roe,
Chester R. Brough; middle row: Charles H. Richards, Ivan E. Harris,
George M. Park, Samuel O. Bennion, mission president; Joseph E. Hanks,
J. Edwin Miller, Leo Elder; front row: Merrill R. Willis, Orville W. Ward,
Almon D. Owens, conference president; and Harry M. Christensen.

Progress in Holland

Elder Abraham Dalebout, writing from Rotterdam, Holland, encloses
this photograph of the elders of that conference, including the mission presi-
dent, his wife, and the mission secretary, and the following elders: First
row: S. N. Wetter, G. Van der Waard, conference president Abraham Dale-
bout, Mission President J. P. Lillywhite, Sister Lillywhite, Arie Kruys,
William Levi Phillips. Second row: O. Brainich, J. Vreeken, R. E. Card-
well, Mission Secretary R. E. Weight, J. Koning. Third row: H. Boekweg,
A. Sligting and W. R. Monson. "The work in this conference is progress-

EDITORS' TABLE

943

ing wonderfully at this time. During the first five months of this year,
with an average of eight missionaries, 14,466 tracts, 4,999 gospel pamphlets
and 353 books have been distributed and 44 people were led down into
the waters of baptism. Local elders presided in nearly all of the branches
during the war. They worked faithfully and kept a good spirit existing in
the mission. The branches are now all fully organized, with missionaries
in charge of the work. A most excellent spirit exists at the present time,
all are working hard and the Lord is crowning their efforts with success. At
Rotterdam we have a well organized Mutual with an active enrollment of
over fifty, and much good is coming from the work of that organization.
The Improvement Era is a source of joy and enlightenment to the elders
in this land."

The Tonga Band

i

Elders S. I. May, conference president and bandmaster, writes from
Neiafu Vava'u, calling attention to the Tongan band which was organized
in March, 1917. The study of music was immediately commenced, and by
October, 1917, some money had been raised, by the Saints and the band
members for instruments which were then ordered, and by June, 1918 the
order of goods was landed from R. S. Williams & Sons, located in Calgary,
Canada, and work began at once. The band was called to Tonga for the

Central conference in November of that year, but was prevented from play-
ing there on account of influenza, a number of members of the band being
victims. "For the last two years we have had very good success, and at
present have one of the best bands, if not the best in all of the Tongan
group. We are striving to be the best in the South Pacific, if possible. The
band offers a splendid avenue for presenting the fruits of 'Mormonism' be-

944

IMPROVEMENT ERA

fore the people in a different way. The work is growing in the Tongan
Islands and we anticipate a greater growth. There is a feeling of unrest
and dissatisfaction among the contending sects of Christendom. We extend
heartiest greetings to the readers of the Era throughout the world and hope
you are all enjoying the blessings of the Lord as we are, who are trying to
do our part in far off Tonga to redeem the inhabitants of the earth from
the spirit of Babylon that has enveloped them so long."

Nine Baptisms Performed and Sunday School Organized

Elder F. Pratt Hawkes, Joplin, Missouri, under date of June 21, in a
letter to the Era, says; "We have realized better results in this vicinity
in the last three months than any other period of the same length in a long
time. The labors of the missionaries in the past are aiding us in reaping
good results. During the past three months there has been a Sunday School
established and nine baptisms performed. We have many interested in-
vestigators of the gospel, and have at present nine applications for bap-
tism. We express our appreciation of the benefits received from the Im-
provement Era in our missionary labors."

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Missionaries laboring in Joplin are, (left to right) Louis H. Peterson,
Ridgedale, Idaho; Myra Miller, American Fork, Utah; Herman Blan,- Wal-
lace, Kansas. (Sitting) Grace Larsen, Roosevelt, Utah; F. Pratt Hawks,
Preston, Idaho.

Many Friends in Sunday School

Elder LeGrande Smith, writing from Dallas, Texas, June 25, says:
"We have disposed of sixty Books of Mormon during the last month. Each
night from two to three meetings have been held and we are favored with
several listeners. Our Sunday school, organized a year ago, is in thriving

EDITORS' TABLE 945

condition, and we are making many friends through it. We have three
organized branches in this conference and twenty traveling elders who are
enthusiastic in their labors in presenting the gospel to the people. We at-
tribute our success to the Lord and acknowledge his hand in what we have
been able to accomplish."

Elders left to right: Leonard W. Gibson, Ogden, Utah; W. LeGrande
Law, Delta, Utah; Clarence Cottom, St. George, Utah. Front: Wilford
Capson Salt Lake City; LeGrande F. Smith, conference president, Draper,
Utah; George Byron Done, Salt Lake City.

The Charms of Home

I have read of the world and its greatness,
I've heard of the grandeur of Rome,

I have been in the lands termed as beauteous,
But couldn't compare them with home.

Home is the place where the wanderer knows
He would have been blest, had he stayed,

But ere he taketh the matter to heart,
His life is all worn out and frayed.

Home is the place where the tired all go,

Where weary and hungry all steer,
Where sick and troubled find surest relief;
Can you find any place more dear?
James H. Dibb Draper, Utah

An Analysis of the General Statistical Report of the Young Men's

Mutual Improvement Association for the Year Ending

March 31, 1921

The report of Secretary Moroni Snow shows 85 stakes, and in these 85
stakes there are 796 Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, with
a total membership of 43,562, divided as follows: officers and instructors,
6,116; Advanced Senior Class members, 10,557; Senior Class members,
11,516; Junior Class members, 15,373, compared with 1920, when there were
763 associations, with 11,072 Advanced Seniors, 13,813 Seniors, 15,341
Juniors, and a total membership of 40,226. This is an increase in the
number of associations of 33, a decrease in the Advanced Seniors of 515,
and a decrease in the Senior Class members of 2,297, with an increase in
the Juniors of 32, and a total increase of 3,336, or 8.29%. The reason for
the decrease in the Advanced Senior and Senior Classes for the year 1921
is assigned to the fact that the officers and instructors, who come mostly
from these classes, prior to this year, were included in the regular mem-
bership in the several departments to which they belonged. This year they
are separated. The statistical report for this year is complete, every stake
having reported.

The average attendance in the associations for this year is 21,096, as
compared with 18,826 for 1920 — an increase of 2,270 or 12.05%, showing
that, while our membership has increased slightly over 8%, our average at-
tendance has increased over 12%. This indicates a greater interest in the
work for this season.

There are now a large number of young men away from home attend-
ing school, on missions, and at work, and in the service of the country. The
two years ' compare as follows:

Attending school, 1920, 1,226; 1921, 1,451; increase 225; On missions,
1920, 1,128; 1921, 1,541; Increase, 413; At work and in service of country,
1920, 1,144; 1921, 1,821; Increase 677.

There has been an increase in all meetings, except in the conferences
and conventions:

Officers' meetings, 1920, 3,800; 1921, 4,922; Increase 1,192, or 31.37%;
Joint Officers' meetings, 1920, 7,817; 1921, 11,099; Increase 3,282, or 42%;
Regular Association meetings, 1920, 13,769; 1921, 16,927; Increase 3,159,
or 22.9%; Monthly joint meetings, 1920, 4,878; 1921, 6,347; Increase 1,469,
or 30.1%; Conferences and conventions, 1920, 733; 1921, 708; Decrease, 25.

This shows a total of 30,997 meetings for 1920, and 40,073 for 1921 an
increase of 9,076 or 29.3%.

A very significant fact is this, that the number actually taking part in
M. I. A. activities was 15,859 in 1920 and 25,536 in 1921, an increase of
9,677 or 60.9%. This showing is stimulated largely by the item in the effi-
ciency report for these years requiring a statement of the number taking
part in the activities of the organization.

A very favorable condition exists regarding the scouts. The report
shows that in 1920, the scouts who were registered with the National Or-
ganization numbered 4,528; whereas this year the registered scouts number

MUTUAL WORK 947

7,545 ; showing an increase of 3,017. Besides the registered scouts .in the
National Organization, there were in 1920, 3,708 doing scout work who were
not registered; and in 1921 there were 5,127 of this class of scouts; an in-
crease of 1,419.

The libraries and the reading course statistics show a decrease in the
number of libraries of 12, due largely to the merging of the libraries with
the public and school libraries, established in various parts of the Church.
In 1920 there were 386 libraries; in 1921, 364. The number of reading
course books were 8,706, in 1920; and 9,207, in 1921, an increase of 501,
though the sale of the reading course books for 1921 was the lowest on
record for a number of years. Altogether there were 21,320 volumes in the
libraries in 1920; and 10,375, in 1921. A significant item in the report
shows that the number of members who read any or all of the reading
course books decreased for 1921 by 2,185, as the reading course for last
year seemed not to be very popular. The number who read any or all of
the reading course books in 1920 numbered 4,990.

Boy Scout Week in Fremont Stake

The week of May 22 to 29 was formally designated as "Boy Scout
Week" for Fremont stake, by Mayor Archibald, of Rexburg, in a proclama-
tion issued from his office May 18, 1921. The program of this week was
as follows: Monday and Tuesday — Individual and troop community good
turns. Wednesday — Intertroop athletic carnival. Fathers and Sons' ban-
quet and scout show. Thursday — Civic service. Friday night and Saturday —
An over-night hike.

The athletic carnival was full of interesting track and field events and
scout contests. Competition was of the keenest type; Troop 1, of Rexburg,
winning 1st place by a 3 point lead. Eight troops entered into the various
events of the meet. On Wednesday evening a Fathers and Sons' banquet
was. held in the wards. The three troops of Rexburg joined together and
experienced one of the most inspiring and enthusiastic gatherings of fathers
and sons possible. One hundred fathers and 110 boys, together with repre-
sentatives of the Commercial Club, Rotary Club, and City Officers were
present. Appropriate program of toasts and music was rendered for the
occasion.

On Thursday 58 scouts from the three troops of Rexburg spent the day
cleaning the cemetery' and did such a thorough job that the City Council
voted them $125 for their work. The Commercial and Rotary Clubs, of
Rexburg, united in raising $422 for the boys. These two sums together
with $60 taken in at the Boy Scouts' show put the- three troops of Rexburg
on a secure financial basis for the coming year.

The results of the week's activities have united parents, business men,
various clubs, and the boys, in putting over scouting with greater vigor
and enthusiasm than ever before. The understanding between these various
groups will be more complete, and the cooperation more pronounced in be-
half of the boy scout organization of Fremont stake. — Wayne B. Hales,
Deputy Stake Scout Commissioner.

The Papago Ward M. I. A.

This ward is located in Maricopa stake, Arizona, and has perhaps
the only Indian M. I. A. in the Church. There are about forty members en-
rolled and the picture shows a group of the organization composed en-
tirely of Indian brothers and sisters. This Indian organization holds two
meetings per week, one on Sunday evenings, on the south side of the river
at Papago, and the other at the same ward on the north side of the river,

948

IMPROVEMENT ERA

on Tuesday evening. They are studying the Book of Mormon and will
continue in session all the year round. Members of the Indian Associa-

tion 'sang in a male quartet, also a duet, and a sextet, "Send the Light,"
at the meeting of the M. I. A. First ward, Mesa, on June 5. E. C. Santeo,
a life-member of the M. I. A., bore his testimony and spoke five minutes. He
is the elderly brother in the center of the group; and is the class leader.
These Latter-day Saint Indians are doing good work among the Indians of
other denominations on the Salt River reservation, Arizona.

Mutual Activities in California

The "California M. I. A. Booster" for July 5, comes to hand. It is a
manuscript paper by the California Mutuals. Miss Grace Anderson, of Oak-
land, California, we are told in one of the items, "has suggested a new
slogan with the initials of the M. I. A., namely, it stands for "More Intelli-
gent Amusement." The editor of the Booster commends this interpreta-
tion to all of the Mutual organizations.

Among the hikes we find the following: On May 28, sixty-two members
of the Oakland M. I. A. and their friends left San Francisco for a hike to
Willow Camp. It was a rainy day; most of the crowd were wet and muddy.
On arrival at camp a line was put in front of the fireplace on which were
hung wet clothes making Stinson beach look as if a new laundry had been
opened. However, we are told, that some engaged in: "A baseball game;
some hunted sea shells; some played among the rocks and in the sand;
while others, in spite of the cold weather, took a dip in the ocean. In the
evening, a bon-fire was built and the crowd gathered around and sang
camp-fire songs. A tired group of hikers parted at the Ferry building in
San Francisco, but everyone was still good-natured, and expressed the hope
that there would be another hike just like this one."

A hike was taken by thirty-five members of the Bee-Hive girls, and
Boy Scouts at "Whitewater, Arizona, who enjoyed a four-day trip into the
hills of the Chiricahua mountains. This branch is succeeding well in its
work. Lorin Dillman has written a clever M. I. A. song for Whitewater en-
titled "Improvement is Our Motto."

The Booster also notices that several plays have been given by the
Bee-Hive girls, in different parts.

MUTUAL WORK
The Nampa, Idaho, Special Activity for May

949

The M. I. A. presented the pageant, "The Golden Star," as their
special activity for May, being assisted by the ward choir. "A very pleas-
ing musical program to a capacity house was rendered by the combined

choir and organization. As Nampa is a city of 8,500, ninety per cent of whom
are not members of the Church, we feel that our pageant will result in much
good," writes Arnold E. Johnson. A picture of the pageant is presented
herewith.

M. I. A. in Australia

From Secretary William W. Home, of the Australian mission, 43 Sta-
tion Street, Newton, Sydney, Australia, we have received a statistical re-
port of the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associa-
tions for the year ending March 31, 1921, from which it appears that in that
mission there are six associations: Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne,
Perth and Sydney. There are 39 officers and instructors, 16 Advanced Senior
members, 105 Seniors, 42 Juniors; a total of 202 enrolled, and the average
attendance aside from the officers has been 97. Altogether there have been
292 regular, and 110 monthly joint meetings, with 14 Y. M. M. I. A. offi-
cers' meetings and 76 joint officers' meetings; a total of 492; 89 took part
actively in the M. I. A. activities.

Dates of Separate Conventions Y. M. M. I. A.

Sept. 4 — North Davis, South Davis.

Sept. 11 — Box Elder, Jordan, Logan.

Sept. 18 — Alpine, North Weber, Ogden, Weber.

Sept. 25 — Cache, Cottonwood, Granite, Nebo, Utah.

Oct. 16 — Ensign, Liberty, Pioneer, Salt Lake.

Program of Auxiliary Group Conventions for 1921

Held in Connection with the Regu- joint departments, and M. I. A. meet-
lar Quarterly Conferences ings, are here given: For dates of

Programs for the general sessions, conventions, see notice of First

950

IMPROVEMENT ERA

Presidency, editorial department of
this number of the Era:

Saturday, 10 a. m.
Regular Quarterly Conference Ses-.
sion.
Adress: The Slogan, "We Stand

for Loyal Citizenship"

General Representative

1
2

Definition.

The Common Weal as Express-
ed in Tradition, Law and Pub-
lic Opinion.

3. Purpose of Citizenship.

4. The Loyal Citizen.

Saturday, 11 a. m.
Joint Meeting of M. I. A. Stake

Boards.

Stake Officers only, with Presi-
dencies of Stakes, High Council Secretaries and Treasurers of all Or-

1. Sensing Responsibilities.

a. To God.

b. To stake and ward author-
ities.

c. To the individual members.

2. Vision of the Work.

3. Enthusiasm.

4. Attention to Details and "Fol-
low-up."

5. Cooperation.

a. Recognition of assistants and
counselors.

b. Division of duties.

c. Team work.

d. Between auxiliaries.

(1) Teacher-training.

(2) Social activities.

6. Consistent Living.

7. Spirituality.

Committee having in charge the M
I. A. work are invited to this meet-
ing. One hundred per cent of Stake
Officers are required to be in at-
tendance.

1. Effective Administration in
Stakes ..General Board Member

a. Working organization.

b. Education in leadership.

c. Supervision of wards.

d. Magazines.

e. Money.

f. Meetings of ward and stake of-
ficers.

Three Qualifications of Stake

ganizations.

Subject: Secretarial Efficiency

General Representatives

1. Standards of Secretarial Effi-
ciency.

a. Knowledge of duties.

b. Ability to perform duties
well.

c. The will to do.

2. Values of Secretarial Effi-
ciency.

a. To organization.

b. To individual.
Choristers and Organists of all Or-

Officers General Board Member ganizations

a. Working faith in the gospel.

b. Love of the work.

c. Preparedness.
3. Discussion.

Saturday, 2 p. m.

Regular Quarterly Conference Ses-
sion.

Address: Messages from Aux-
iliary Organizations. (One five-
minute address from a General Rep-
resentative of each of the six asso-
ciations and one from the General
Music Committee.)

Saturday, 3 p. m.
Department Meetings of Organiza-
tions
Superintendecies and Presidencies of
all Organizations

Subject: Factors of Leadership

General Representatives

1. The Organization, Correlation,
and General Use of Music in
the Wards

General Representative

Discussion.

2. How a Congregational Song
may be Most Impressively Pre-
sented and Effectively Taught
and Studied

General Representative

Note; Some attention will also
be given to the special work of or-
ganists.
Teacher-Training Meeting.

1 Teacher-training Work, 20 min-
ute address.. Stake Teacher-Trainer

a. The three biggest things it
has accomplished.

b. Our problems ahead. Dis-
cussion.

2. The Significance of Teacher-
training to the Church, 20 min-

MUTUAL WORK

951

ute address

Member of General Board

a. The need of vitalizing Gos-
pel truths.

b. The course of study for
1922. "The Principles of the
Gospel."

Saturday 4 p. m.

M. I. A. Joint Stake and Ward Of-
ficers.

1. New Division of Time for Reg-
ular M. I. A. Ward Meetings

General Board Member

a. Ward officers' meetings, 7 to
7:30 p. m.

b. Opening exercises, prayer,
music and song, 7:30 to 7:45.

c. Advanced Senior Class, 7:45
to 9.

d. Senior Class and other activ-
ities, 7:45 to not later than
9.

2. Special Activities (See folder).

Finance — Ward, Stake and
Church — How and When?
Two 3-minute Reports of Most
Successful Wards in Obtaining
Yearly Subscriptions to the
Era.

The New Efficiency Report

General Board Member

a. What it means.

b. How to use it.

c. Promptly repotting it.

d. Relationship to annual re-
port.

New Edition of the Y. M. M.
I. A. Handbook.
Statement by Stake Superin-
tendent Giving Complete At-
tendance in Each Ward and
Naming Wards having the Larg-
est Regular Attendance, as a
Recognition of their Labors.

Sunday, 10:30 a. m.

.General Board Member
3. The Spiritual Basis of M. I. A. Regular Quarterly Conference Ses-
Work General Board Member sion.

Saturday Evening

Stake Social Committee.

A Stake Social to be Programmed
and Given under the direction of
the Stake Social Committee.

Sunday 9 a. m.
Y. M. M.I. A. Stake and Ward Of-
ficers.

1. The Senior and Junior Pro-
gram.

Address: Responsibility of the
Home in Religious Training....
General Representative

Sunday, 2:30 p. m.

Regular Quarterly Conference Ses-
sion.

Wherever the local authorities de-
sire, a meeting may be held on Sun-
day, at 7 p. m.

The Aaland question was settled by the council of the League of Na-
tions at Geneva, June 24, by awarding the island, to Finland.

An earl is kidnapped. James Francis Bernard, fourth earl of Bandon,
was taken from his residence, June 21, in county Cork, Ireland, by a band
of masked men. The castle was set afire after Lady Bandon and the serv-
ants had been locked in a room adjoining the stables.

Mrs. Lettie Farr Thatcher, widow of Apostle Moses Thatcher, died at
her home in Logan, Utah, June 21. Mrs. Thatcher was 76 years of age.
She was born at Nauvoo, 111., and came to Utah with the early pioneers,
which included her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Aaron F. Farr.

Eamonn de Valera was reelected president of the "Irish republic," it
was announced June 20 by his secretary, Harry Boland, who also stated
that Sean (James) O'Cealaigh, former Irish "envoy" to Paris, had been
elected speaker of Dail Eireann, the Sinn Fein parliament.

Charles O. Wheat, who died at Ogden, June 15, is said to be the last
member of the Utah pony express to pass away. He was born in Hartford,
Conn., September 4, 1846. He came to Utah in 1860 and when thirteen
years of age began riding pony express from Salt Lake to Milford. In
later years he became a locomotive engineer.

Crime is decreasing in Salt Lake City, says the chief of police in his
report for 1920, published June 22. There were only three homicides as
against nine during the preceding year. Most of the property stolen was
recovered, and several thieves arrested while engaged in their unlawful pur-
suit. Prostitution has been entirely eliminated, says the chief.

Nearly a hundred years was the age reached by Andrew C. Olson of
Ephraim, Sanpete county, Utah, whose remains were laid to rest in that
city, June 14. He was born in Denmark in 1822 and joined the Church in
that country. He came to Ephraim in 1873. There he married Mary M.
Nielson. He has nine children and forty-two grandchildren. As a young
man he followed the sea for a number of years.

Arizona's contribution to the Mormon Battalion monument fund has
been received by Governor Mabey and forwarded to Mrs. May Belle T.
Davis, secretary and treasurer of the monument commission according to
a report published July 1. It consists of a state warrant for $2500. Governor
Mabey has acknowledged the receipt of the contribution thanking the peo-
ple of Arizona for the expression of good will conveyed in its gentrous
donation.

The death of Lady Randolph Churchill, who was Miss Jennie Jerome
of New York, was announced in a London dispatch June 29. It was due
to heart failure following a hemorrhage. She was married to Lord Randolph
Churchill, second son of the seventh Duke of Marlborough, and one of
England's most influential political leaders of his day, in 1874. Her son,
"Winston Spencer Churchill, secretary of state for the colonies, was with her
at the end.

PASSING EVENTS 953

The British coal miners' strike was ended June 28. It has been in
progress since April 1. The miners resume work at somewhat reduced
wages, but the government offers a subsidy to the coal mining industry of
£10,000,000, and the workers will share the profits with the employers.
Nearly one million miners were affected by the strike but they failed to
enlist the full cooperation of railroad men and dock laborers and there-
fore failed in obtaining all they demanded.

Samuel Gompers was re-elected president of the American Federation
of Labor, at the 41st annual convention of that organization, at Denver,
which was brought to a close June 25. John L. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers, was his opponent. The executive council of the
federation instructed Gompers to call upon President Harding, his cabinet,
and congress to bring about recognition of the so-called Irish republic and
to protest to Great Britain against the "brutal and uncivilized warfare now
being conducted in Ireland."

Taft succeeds White. Former president of the United States, William
Howard Taft, was nominated, June 30, to be chief justice of the supreme
court, to succeed the late Chief Justice White. The nomination was
promptly confirmed by the senate, in executive session, only four votes
being cast against him — those of Borah, Johnson and La Follette, Rep., and
Watson, of Georgia, Dem. Mr. Taft is said to be the first man in the na-
tion's history to be chosen for the highest office in both the executive and
judicial branches of the government.

Maneuvering of a ship by wireless was successfully accomplished, July
10, when the battleship Iowa was controlled for two hours from the Ohio,
five miles away. There was not a soul on board the Iowa. The ship
was a real "Flying Dutchman," that mythical crewless ghost of the seas,
as she obeyed the will of Captain F. L. Chadwick on the Ohio, almost hull
down on the horizon. The invisible, magic fingers of the radio reached
out across the sea to whirl the Iowa's steering wheel, operate the fuel, oil
and water supply valves, and start and stop the ship, says the Associted
Press account.

A conference on disarmament may be held in the near future. Presi-
dent Harding, it was announced in a Washington dispatch dated July 10,
has approached Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan to ascertain whether
it would be agreeable to them to take part in a conference on the limita-
tion of armaments, to be held in Washington at a time to be mutually
agreed upon. If the proposal is found to be acceptable, formal invita-
tions for such a conference will be issued. He has also urged that there
be at the same time a discussion of Pacific and far eastern problems and that
China be invited to participate in the consideration of these problems.

The peace sentiment in the United States is growing. On June 22, a pe-
tition signed by more than 20,000 clergymen was presented to President
Harding, asking that steps toward an international conference on reduction
of armaments "at the earliest possible date" be taken. The petition had
the indorsement of the National Catholic Welfare council, the United Syna-
gogue of America, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the
Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America. Among the listed
signers were Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Episcopalians,
Disciples of Christ, Congregationalists, Catholics, Unitarians, Friends and
Rabbis.

The Ulster parliament was opened formally by King George, June 22. In
his speech he pleaded for peace and harmony in Ireland and expressed the
hope that ere long there would be a parliament in the southern part of the
island. The king was accompanied by the queen, who, it is said, looked pale

954 IMPROVEMENT ERA

and nervous. Following the conciliatory speech of the king, Lloyd George is-
sued an invitation to De Valera, president of the so-called republic of Ire-
land, and Sir James Craig, premier of Ulster, to come to London for a
conference with the government on the Irish question, for the purpose of
finding a solution acceptable to all. Sir James accepted the invitation,
but De Valera on June 27, replied that he could not accept it "in its pres-
ent form." Later, however, he accepted, and proceeded to London.

Piracy in the Atlantic is thought to account for the mysterious dis-
appearance, within the last few months, of at least eight freighters and the
crew of one ship, the schooner Carol A. Deening which was found stranded,
January 31, this year, a few miles north of Cape Lookout, lightship, N. C,
with every evidence of foul play.

Four departments of the United States government, says a Washington
dispatch dated June 21, are seriously and earnestly endeavoring to deter-
mine whether piracy on the high seas has actually leaped out of the pages of
early seafaring history into the present reality of modern ocean commerce.
Among the missing ships are a Spanish freighter, a Russian bark, and three
British steamers, besides the American vessels.

The ancestral home of Washington urns dedicated, June 21, with elab-
orate ceremonies. Sulgrave manor, as it is called, is located in Northamp-
tonshire, England. It has just been reconstructed, at a cost of £50,000, and is
now an exact replica of the place as it was three centuries ago. The Marquis
of Cambridge, brother of Queen Mary, gave the principal address. The
Prince of Wales planned to be present, but was detained. The exercises
began with services in the Sulgrave parish church, where lies buried
Lawrence Washington, forebear of George Washington; Mrs. Washington,
and their eleven children. John A. Stewart, president of the American
branch of the Sulgrave Institution, presented a bronze bust of Washington
to the manor on behalf of American donors. George Harvey, American
ambassador, did not attend the exercises.

A peace resolution ending the war with Germany and Austria-Hungary,
was agreed on, June 28, by the conferees of the house and senate. It is re-
garded as a compromise between the plan of Senator Knox and the proposi-
tion of Representative Porter. It declares the state of war at an end and
expressly reserves to the United States, "any and all rights, privileges, in-
demnities, reparations or advantages, together with the right to enforce
the same, to which it or they have become entitled under the terms of the
armistice signed November 11, 1918, or any extensions or modifications
thereof; or which were acquired by or are in the possession of the United
States of America by reason of its participation in the war or to which its
nationals have thereby become rightfully entitled ; or which under the treaty
of Versailles have been stipulated for its or their benefit; or to which it is
entitled as one of the principal allied and associated powers or to which it
is entitled by virtue of an act or acts of congress or otherwise." The reso-
lution, having been passed promptly by both houses of congress, was signed
by President Harding, July 2, at Raritan, N. J., where he was visiting at
the home of Senator Joseph S. Frelinghuysen. The next step will be the
negotiation of a peace treaty between the former belligerents.

The Total population of Utah, 449,396, shows a preponderance of males
over females, according to information issued by the census bureau, June
23, the figures being 232,051 and 217,345 respectively, but the female con-
tingent is gaining. During the first decade the total population increased
by 20.4 per cent, the male population by 17.9 per cent and the female
population by 23.2 per cent. The ratio of males to females in 1920 was
106.8 to 100, as against 111.5 to 100 in 1910. The figures for the entire
country show that we have 2,090,132 more males than females, the totals

PASSING EVENTS 955

being 53,900,376 and 51,810,244 respectively. The females predominate in-
Masachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, North and South Carolina, Georgia
and Alabama. The distribution of the population in Utah according to
color in 1920 was as follows: White, 441,901; Negro, 1.446; Indian, 2,711;
Chinese, 342; Japanese, 2,936; all other (Korean, Maori, Filipino, Hindu
and Hawaiian), 60. During the decade the white population increased by
20.5 per cent while the negro population increased by 26.4 per cent. The
foreign-born white population numbered 56,455 in 1920, as against 63,393 in
1910. This element constituted 12.6 per cent of the total male population
in 1920, as against 17 per cent in 1910.

Changes in ward and stake officers June, 1921. — New wards and
branches.- — Logan Twelfth ward, Logan stake, J. W. Linford, bishop, Logan,
Utah; Fairview North ward, North Sanpete stake, John Richard Graham,
bishop, Fairview, Utah; Clemmentsville branch, Teton stake, Herbert J.
Carbon stake Rudolph Reusser, presiding elder; Standardville branch,
Carbon stake Rudolph Reusser presiding elder; Kennilworth branch
Carbon stake, Charles H. Clair, presiding elder; Rains branch, Carbon
stake, Francis Anderson, presiding elder; Soldier Summit branch, Utah
stake, Parley Bills, presiding elder, Soldier Summit, Utah. New bishops,
etc. — La Sal ward, San Juan stake, Alexander Jameson, succeeded Walter
D. Hammond, address same; Moab ward, San Juan stake, Walter D. Ham-
mond succeeded Clyde A. Hammond, address same; Burrville branch,
Sevier stake, Myron L. Burr, presiding elder, Burrville, Utah; Trout Creek
ward, Bannock stake, Guy Harris acting, Lago Idaho; Redmond ward, North
Sevier stake, J. Ernest Frandsen succeeded James A. Christensen, address
same; Coltman ward, Bingham stake, Vincent F. Wootton succeeded Orson
W. Hudman, Idaho Falls, R. D. No. 5, Idaho; Richvale branch, Teton
stake, Albert Gilbert, Elmer Harris, address same; Palisade ward, Teton
stake, Edgar L. Gee succeeded James W. Stott, address same; Darby ward,
Teton stake, Octavus Smith succeeded Peter Sorenson, address same; Pan-
guitch south ward, Panguitch stake, Fred G. Gardiner succeeded J. Nephi
Henrie, address same; Holliday ward, Cottonwood stake, Joseph F. Quist
succeeded Joseph Y. Larsen, address same.

Dr. George Thomas was elected president of the University of Utah,
on June 25, at a meeting of the board of regents in the directors' room of
the Deseret National Bank building. Dr. Thomas was formerly the head
of the department of commerce and finance at the university. The final
vote was nine to four. Professor Fred W. Reynolds receiving the minority
vote was nine to four, Professor Fred W. Reynolds receiving the minority
Utah. His mother had died when he was 14 years of age, and a year later
his father suffered an injury that prevented him from working on his
ranch and threw added responsibility onto the boy. What time he was
able to spare from ranch work was spent in study. For three winters
he attended the Brigham Young college, taking the regular high school
course. With money which he had saved from working as a thresher hand,
and with that which had come to him through the death of his father, he
went to Boston in 1891 with the intention of entering Harvard. After com-
pleting his high school course through a year's study at Berkeley high
school in Boston, he was able to do so. The ninth out of a class of 425, he
was graduated from the college after four years with a degree of bachelor
of arts. For two years afterward he taught at Brigham Young university,
later taking a professorship at the Utah Agricultural college for the same
length of time.

Dr. Thomas then again returned to Harvard, where he took a year's
postgraduate work, obtaining the degree of master of arts. Soon after-
ward he traveled through England and Europe. While abroad he studied
at the Frederick Wilhelm university at Halle, Germany, and the University

956 IMPROVEMENT ERA

of Berlin, being awarded a degree of doctor of philosophy at the first-
named institution. He succeeds Dr. John A. Widtsoe, who now is a member
of the Council of the Twelve.

Colonel ] canes Henry Martineau, oldest civil engineer in Utah, veteran
of the Mexican War, and pioneer of 1850, died at the home of his daughter
in Salt Lake City, Friday, June 24, 1921. He was born in Amsterdam, Mont-
gomery county New York, March 13, 1828, and was the son of Doctor
and Mrs. John Martineau. Coming to Utah as a non-"Mormon," in 1850,
he taught school in Farmington that winter. Through the study of "Mor-
monism," he joined the Church shortly after. He later followed his pro-
fession as civil engineer, and laid out thirty-five towns and cities in Utah
and Idaho, besides roads and canals, and many surveys of the public do-
main. In 1851 he was called to Iron county with President George A. Smith,
remaining there until 1860. In July, 1860, he moved to Logan, occupying
there various responsible positions in civil and religious affairs. In early
days he was an Indian fighter and rendered active service in a number of
campaigns in Utah. In 1884 he moved to Arizona and the next year to
Mexico, where he continued in his professional labors, returning to Salt
Lake City in 1903, where he spent the remainder of his life. He wrote
a number of articles for home magazines, and was a fair writer of both
prose and poetry. He filled with credit a number of offices in the
Church, and during his later years, was a patriarch. Impressive funeral
services, at which remarks were made by Presidents Heber J. Grant and
A. W. Ivins, were held Sunday, June 26, at the residence of his son, Hon.
Lyman R. Martineau, one of his thirteen surviving children, and a member
of the General Board of the Y. M. M. I. A. He leaves also numerous grand-
children, great-grand-children, and great-great-grand-children, who are liv-
ing. His body was buried at Logan.

In an interesting experiment on the improvement of potatoes by hill se-
lection which has been under way at the Utah Agricultural Experiment Sta-
tion for nine years, an increase in yield of one hundred bushels an acre
has been secured, according to Professor George Stewart, author of a re-
cent bulletin reporting the results of this experiment. The work was
begun, in 1911, by Dr. F. S. Harris who was then Director and Agrono-
mist of the Station. In 1916 the work was taken over by Professor Stewart
who has continued the work up to the present. When the work was be-
gun a number of the highest yielding hills were selected from the Majestic,
Bangor, and Peerless varieties, then being grown at the Station. Each hill
was put in a separate paper bag and numbered. The following year each
hill was used to plant one row of potatoes. At harvest each year thereafter,
each hill has been dug separately and the tubers placed in a paper bag
with its proper number. During the winter each hill has been carefully
weighed and the tubers counted and then returned to the bag for storage
during the winter. From these data some of the best hills from the best
rows, and some of the better hills from the poorer rows, were again se-
lected for planting the following year. This process has been continued for
the last nine years, an unselected strain being grown each year for com-
parison. By 1915 — just three years — the selected strains yielded an average
of 301.03 busheljto the acre as compared with 179.3 bushels to the acre for
the unselected. From 1915 to 1920 the selected strain has outyielded the
unselected stock of the same variety by more than a hundred bushels
an acre, except in 1919 when there was a difference of only 29.6 bushels.
The following year, however, the selected strains again outyielded the un-
selected strain by 168.6 bushels. The small difference in 1919 is attributed
to the very poor growing season. In addition to a greater yield per acre
the individual tubers have been larger, more uniform and more nearly
free from disease.

The Trained Man
Is Holding His Job

Employment is scarce and hard to get today. But
the trained man is holding his job. And the man who
is looking to success in the future is the man who is
getting thorough preparation for his work now.

Send for the 1921 catalog, the illustrated U. A. C.
booklet and a pamphlet specially prepared to outline
the extensive work offered by the Institution in teach-
er-training. Address: The President's Office, Utah
Agricultural College, Logan, Utah.

Fall Quarter Opens

Monday, September 12

The Utah Agricultural College

The Home of Efficient Education
LOGAN, UTAH

A LITTLE LIGHT

A little light on your insurance will undoubtedly reveal the fact that
you are greatly underinsured.

Think what it would mean to you if a fire should destroy your prop-
erty.

We sell the best protection.

Over thirty-four years of service.

UTAH HOME FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

HEBER J. GRANT & CO., General Agents
22 Main Street. Salt Lake City, Utah

Improvement Era, August, 1921

Two Dollars per Annum

Entered at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, as second class matter

Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in Section 1103, Act of
October 3, 1917, authorized on July 2, 1918

Address Room 406 Church Office Building, Salt Lake City, Utah

Heber J. Grant, ) ,. Edward H. Anderson, Business Mgr.

Edward H. Anderson, ) Editors ]y/[oroI1i Snow, Assistant

CONTENTS

Early Picture of Pres. Heber J. Grant and Family Frontispiece

Bryce Canyon. A Poem..... Lowry Nelson 865

Significant Counsel to the Young people of the

Church , Prest. Heber J. Grant 867

The Church as an Idea]* Institution Adam S. Bennion 880

Lonesome. A Poem Thora Gale 890

Fagged Out. A Playlet Claude C. Cornwall 891

The Dividing Line. A Story Eva Navone 896

God's Need of Man B. H. Roberts 907

Live Well Today. A Poem Ida R. Alldredge 911

Determined to Work ... Will Dobson 912

During Vacation Days 915

Picked for a Winner Frank R. Arnold 916

M. I. A. Officers at Liberty Park. 3 Snapshots 920

"Mormon" Temporalities Dr. James E. Talmage 921

A Grand View. Utah's "Dixie Country" 927

The Treasure Seeker. A Story Ezra J. Poulsen 928

The Story That's True. A Poem Mary R. E. Ostler 935

Editors' Table — Important Church Notice First Presidency 937

Masonry and "Mormonism". B. H. Roberts 937

"Mormon Settlement in Arizona". 939

Messages from the Missions 941

Mutual Work „ 946

Passing Events ■:.- „...-......-...;-.„.......:.; .-. ...... 952

OFFICIAL LIST OF

Mutual Improvement Association
Reading Course Books

FOR 1921-1922

Restoration of the Gospel — Widtsoe $ .75

Mormon Settlement in Ariz. — McClintock..$2.50 By mail 2.60

A Man for the Ages— Bachellor 2.00 By Mail 2.10

Fireside Stories for Girls— Eggleston 1.50 By mail 1.60

Trails to Woods and Waters— Hawkes 1.60 By mail 1.70

A full set will be sent, postpaid, if cash accompanies the order

FOR $8.00
If charged the complete set will he billed at $8.75.

Deseret Book Company

4446-48 East on South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah

Go Forward

Business is beginning to improve. Conditions will
be much better soon.

Go forward with the times. Prepare yourself for
a worthwhile position. Fit yourself for a place of
responsibility and trust.

Our courses of training are practical and open the
way to splendid opportunities in the bank and of-
fice. Join our classes Monday and begin immedi-
t?ly to increase your value.

L, D. S. Business College

SALT LAKE CITY

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